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NINJA HANDS OF DEATH

by Ashida Kim

The most ruthless and devastating fighters the world has ever known, the invincible Ninja
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devised. Implementing the five elements of combat, an unarmed fighter can skillfully throw
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THE COMBAT
SHOTGUN AND
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THE COMBAT SHOTGUN
AND SUBMACHINE GUN
A Special Weapons Analysis

by Chuck Taylor

From one of America's mostsought-
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US ARMY SPECIAL FORCES
MEDICAL HANDBOOK

The U.S. Army Special Forces are
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SHADOWS
OF DARKNESS
Secrets of the
Night Fighter

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Secrets of the Night Fighter

by 5 id Campbell

Gain the upper hand in a night fight
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Learn to visualize dark areasas they
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Evasive tactics, maneuverability and
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U.S. NAVY SEAL
COMBAT MANUAL

U.S. NAVY SEAL
COMBAT MANUAL

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A hilarious overview of the methods
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COMMANDO DAGGER
The Complete Illustrated History of
the Fairbairn-Sykes Fighting Knife

by Leroy Thompson
The most widely recognized fighting
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MEAT ON THE TABLE
Modern Small-Game Hunting

by Galen Geer

The brush suddenly explodes with a
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Secrets
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^iNJA

SECRETS OF THE NINJA

by Ashida Kim

This is the real thing —one of the
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Text and photos illustrate Ninja
principles of invisibility, covert en¬
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UNREPENTANT SINNER

by Colonel Charles Askins

Experience justice—Askins* style. Unrepentant sinner
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NINJA KNIFE FIGHTING

by Dr. R. Kelly Hill, Jr
Night falls. The glint of cold steel
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THE AR-15/M16: A PRACTICAL GUIDE

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OCTOBER 85

SOLDIER OE FORTUNE 1

COMMAND

GUIDANCE

by Robert K. Brown

f 'AGILE Magazine editor, SF
veteran and former SOF com-
bat reporter Jim Morris probably
said it best: “The only thing you can
learn to be in a 10-day mercenary
school is a corpse.”

For two months we’ve been
flooded by calls and letters asking
for the scoop on mere schools.
That’s natural. Since SOF has been
the source for private-sector mili¬
tary news for the last 10 years, who
else would you call? At any rate ...
journalists, readers, school¬
teachers, lawyers and all manner of
would-be soldiers have been clog¬
ging our mailboxes and phone lines
ever since so-called mercenary
schools came back into the news.

First, Civilian Mili¬
tary Assistance got
linked with Frank
Camper’s school.

Then an Air India
plane dropped into the
Atlantic and the FBI
was looking for a cou¬
ple of Sikhs they sus¬
pected of bombing the
plane. Camper figured
he was on a roll, and
proudly proclaimed
the turbaned thugs
had attended his
school, too. Meanwhile, back here
in Colorado, the ever-strident
Democratic congresswoman Patri¬
cia Schroeder was calling for the
little mere junior colleges to be
closed. Obviously they were a
threat to the civilized world.

Well, since I’m the senior states¬
man of the popular paramilitary
business in the United States, I fig¬
ure it’s time for me to set the record
straight.

First, the last place you can ex¬
pect to see a professional soldier —
national service or private contract
— Is at a self-styled mercenary
school. We don’t know a single
working mere, 20-year Marine,
sergeant in the Foreign Legion or

American vet of the Rhodesian
Army who ever darkened the mess¬
line of one of these paramilitary
McDonald’s.

But don’t tar all private training
schools with the same brush.
Cooper’s Gunsite, as an example,
is legendary. His security is tight,
he invented modem, combat-style
shooting competition, and he col¬
lects the rewards of such a high
reputation by providing sup¬
plementary weapons training for
many pros who have the need to
know. Other academies — local
and national — give refresher
courses and additional training for
both law-enforcement and military
personnel. Such responsible train¬
ers provide fresh ideas
and new techniques
for incorporation into
more traditional train¬
ing schedules of
police and military.

As far as the Sikhs
go, they’re good and
bad, like the adher¬
ents to any faith. But a
quick perusal of any
text on their religion
will show they study to
be warrior/saints. The
outward sign of this
effort is a religious obligation to
carry a weapon at all times, even if
it’s just a little iron sword bound in
the turban. Practice of arms is his¬
torically a part of their religion, and
good Sikhs can be found in private
weapons classes all over America
... just like good members of the
National Rifle Association. That’s
normal... and it’s protected by the
Bill of Rights.

But Camper’s public claim that
his school trains terrorists (alleged
or otherwise) is nothing but selfish,
short-sighted, destructive grand-
standing. His school doesn’t take
the time or possess the facilities to

Continued on page 94

Publisher
Robert K. Brown
Executive Editor
Wm. B. Guthrie
Senior Editor
Dale Andrade

Military Small Arms Editor
Peter G. Kokalis
Associate Editor
James L. Pate
Assistant Editor
Kim McMichael
Executive Assistant
Suzanne Westgaard
Washington Bureau Chief
Jim Graves

Foreign Correspondent
Steve Salisbury
Art Director
Craig Nunn

Art/Production Coordinator
Angie Green
Art Assistant
Margaret Martinesky
Production Assistant
Gretchen Nightingale
Advertising Production
Martha Monkman
Advertising Sales
Shirley Raley
Typographers
Thomas E. Vivrett
Eileen Bernard

CONTRIBUTING EDITORS

Small Arms Paramedic Operations

Jake Jntras Dr. John Peters

Aviation Explosives/Demolitions

Dana DrenkowskJ John Donovan

Sniping/Countersniping Military Affairs
Jim Leatherwood Alexander McCotl

Law Enforcement Military History

Evan Marshall William Brooks

Vietnam Veterans Affairs Unconventional Operations
Col Chuck Allen Brig. Gen. Heibe Aderhoh

Soviet Analyst James P. Monaghan

David C. Is by Harry 1. Clafiin

Edged Weapons Central America

BUI Bagwell Jay Mallin

Omega Group Ltd.:

President
Robert K. Brown
Executive Assistant
Zada L. Johnson

Vice President. Publications
Kevin E. Steele

Vice President, Operations
David A. Graham
Advertising Manager
Joan K. Steele
Marketing Director
Ralph Bicknell
Production Director
Cynthia E.D. Kite
Circulation Director
John Ross Williams
Circulation Specialist
Cherry Chavez

Controller/Business Manager
Robert J. Rolfson

General Manager, SOF Exchange
Robert B. Ogilvie

CHANGE OF ADDRESS/SUBSCRIPTION PROB¬
LEMS: SI* weeks notice it required on all change*
of address. Please Include current mailing-label
information with all correspondence. SOLDIER
OF FORTUNE, Subscription Department, P.O.
Bo* 348, Mt. Morris, 1L 61054. Phone: (815) 734-
4151.

SOLDIER OF FORTUNE (ISSN 0145-6784TJSPS 120-510) is published monthly by
SOLDIER OF FORTUNE Magazine, Inc.. Boulder, Colorado. Controlled Circulation
Postage Paid at Boulder, CO. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to SOLDIER OF
FORTUNE, Subscription Department, P.O. Box 348, Mt Morris, IL 61054. Subscription
rates for twelve monthly Issues: $26.00 — U.S.A . Canada. Mexico. All other countries.
$33.00. Special domestic and foreign rates on request U.S. FUNDS ONLY. Single-Issue
Price — CJ.S.. $3.00: United Kingdom, 2.40; Canada, $3.50.

CONTRIBUTORS: Manuscripts, photographs, drawings are submitted at the contribu-

Boulder, CO 80306, and cannot be returned unless accompanied by sufficient postage.
Any material accepted is subject to such revision as is necessary to meet the editorial
requirements of SOF. All manuscripts must be typed double-spaced. All photographs
should be credited and be accurately identified. Payment will be made at Tates current at
time of publication. NOTICE: SOLDIER OF FORTUNE Magazine Is a magazine of
national and international distribution. There may be products for which sale, posses¬
sion or interstate transportation may be restricted, prohibited or subject to special
licensing requirements in your state, Purchasers should consult the local law-
enforcement authorities in their area.

tor’s own risk. Material should be mailed to SOLDIER OF FORTUNE. P.O. Box 693,

Copyright O 1985 by SOLDIER QF FORTUNE Magazine, Inc,
All Rights Reserved

2 SOLDIER OF FORTUNE

OCTOBER 85

OCTOBER/1985
VOL. 10 NO. 10

SIZING UP THE

SINGAPORE

SYSTEM

Peter G. Kokalis

SAWs and assault rifles
at budget prices 30

BARGING IN
ON CHARLIE

Robert Andrews

River running in Vietnam

36

DAYLIGHT

RAID

Philip Edwards

Mujahideen attack
Afghan fort 38

AIR APACHES
ACROSS THE
PACIFIC

Lawrence Hickey

Strafing the Japanese
Empire 42

DEATH FROM
THE DEEP

Steve Salisbury

Close-combat Naval
Commandos in Salvador

46

SEAL SAGA

John B. Dwyer

The history of our
webfooted warriors 52

RANDALL
MADE KNIVES

Robert L. Gaddis

The tough tradition lives

on 56

PEACE HAS
COME TO
RHODESIA

J.S. Beckman

An update on Mugabe's
crumbling country 60

M12

Peter G. Kokalis

Adopting a new holster
for the 92SB-F 64

POLISHING

PUMP-GUN

TECHNIQUE

Emanuel Kapelsohn

Pointers for every
shotgun shooter 66

Page 52

COVER: U.S. Navy SEALs earned two decades of rep as
some of the world’s toughest and most flexible warriors,
and unusual dress and weapons contribute to their
mystique. Read their past and present beginning on p.

52 and check up on the progress of some of their best
students, the Salvadoran Naval Commandos, in SOF’s
report beginning on p. 46. Photo: Peter D. Sundberg

Bulletin Board 4
Flak 8

Full Auto 14
Battle Blades 16
Adventure Quartermaster 19
Combat Weaponcraft 22
I Was There 25
Incoming 25
In Review 26
Advertisers Index 102
Supply Locker 103
Classified 108

SOLDIER OF FORTUNE 3

S TAND UP,

BE COUNTED...

In these days of special
interest groups which fill
political warchests to curry
favor on Capitol Hill, it is
increasingly important that
individual voters make
themselves heard as
individuals — not just at
the polls, but all year long.
Every day our Congress
takes up a multitude of
topics ranging from Central
America to Afghanistan to
what kinds of weapons and
ammunition you can keep
in your own home. One
way to keep abreast of the
confusing list of issues is to
read a good newspaper
every day. Even if you get
a stilted version, at least
you’ll be aware of the issue
itself. Then call your
elected representatives in
Congress and tell them
what you think. Democracy
only works for those who
participate in it. Here’s
how.

Write your
congressman,
addressing him or her
by name (U.S. Rep.

John Doe), and send it
to: U.S. Capitol,
Washington, D.C.
20515. The address for
the United States
Senate is the same,
except the Zip Code is
20510. Or call directly
by dialing the U.S.
Capitol switchboard,
(202)224-5121, and
asking for the office by
name. Tell the receptionist
in that office that you’d like
to talk with a staff person
handling the issue you are
interested in. Then tell that
staff person what you
think, who you are and
how they can get back in
touch with you. Organized
telephone blitzes are
particularly effective, as
they keep staff attention
focused on a single issue
throughout the work day.
Good luck.

BULLETIN
BOARD^

M AJ. NICHOLSON

MEMORIAL FUND...

Friends grieved and outraged over the murder
of U.S. Army Major Arthur D. Nicholson in
Berlin have banded together to preserve his
memory by helping his surviving family.

Nicholson was shot to death by a Soviet guard
earlier this year while performing authorized
duties in an unrestricted military zone of Berlin,
where Nicholson was attached to the nearby
U.S. Military Liaison Mission. The MLM CO,

Col. Roland Lajoie, was injured in a similar
incident when his jeep was deliberately rammed
by a Soviet truck. Driving the U.S. vehicle on
both occasions was staff Sgt. Jesse Schatz.
Although tough talk was exchanged between
President Reagan and Soviet leaders over
Nicholson’s murder, it was quickly overshadowed
by negotiations between the two superpowers to
set up nuclear arms control talks. The Major
Arthur D. Nicholson Memorial Fund was
established to help care for his widow and
daughter in the coming years. Those interested
in contributing should send their donations to
one of two addresses; The Major Arthur D.
Nicholson Memorial Fund, Dept. SOF,
11301 Cromwell Court, Woodbridge, VA
22192. Overseas contributions should be
sent to: The Major Arthur D. Nicholson
Memorial Fund, Dept. SOF, U.S. Military
Liaison Mission, APO New York 09742.

William B. Guthrie, SOF’s new
executive editor.

S OF CHANGES
THE GUARD...

It’s official. No sooner had Captain
Dale A. Dye, USMC (Ret.), marched
Soldier of Fortune through its most
successful year than he took off for
bigger and better things — in
Hollywood. Dye’s professional acumen
and military savvy (not to mention his
drill instructor persona during
convention pugil stick competition) will
be sorely missed.

The Skipper came to SOF in June
1984 after retiring from 22 years in
service. After a year — and with his first
novel about to be published by Avon
(Run Between the Raindrops) — Dye
recognized an unfilled need in the film
industry and decided to launch his own
business, Warriors, Inc. Warriors offers
professional technical advisers for films
involving military personnel or
equipment, trains actors in military
know-how and provides technical and
period research. In addition, Dye is
trying his hand at script treatments and
screenwriting.

Coming up through SOF’s ranks to
take over the helm from Dye is William
B. Guthrie, who started at the magazine
as a proofreader, then served as
assistant editor, associate editor and
most recently as senior editor before
promotion by Publisher Robert K.

Brown to SOF’s top editorial slot. Dale
Andrade will move up from associate
editor to take over as senior editor.

4 SOLDIER OI< FORTUNE

OCTOBER 85

■ mn'.'.v ■ ■ i iJm MaIi 111 rwi i

Overall length: 11W

VIETNAM WAR BAYONETS Of HONOR

Announcing the world's first limited edition Bayonets. Plated with 24-karat gold
and made to full G.l. specifications using original wartime tooling.

u Dak To. Pleiku, Khe Sank A Shau Valley
... Who me the names on the Will?”

T he American Historical Foundation is proud to
help draw national attention to the unheralded
Americans who fought the Vietnam War and to
provide art individual memorial to them, through the
world’s first limited edition Bayonets, "The Vietnam War
Bayonets of Honoc”

Four different commemorative Bayonets of Honor are
being issued—one each for the Marines, Army, Navy and
Air Force. They are available individually or as a complete
collection to honor all Americans who served.

This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for Vietnam
veterans, their families, those who are proud of the Amer¬
icans who answered the call to duty and military collectors.
The fact that this is the first limited edition commemo ¬

rative ba y onet ever issued in world history will in itseB
draw further attention and importance to this issue —espe¬
cially among collectors. And each time it is displayed and
studied, the Vietnam War and those who served will be
remembered! These Bayonets are beautiful, yet deadly,
symbols of combat that say: "NEVER FORGET!”

A Bayonet Cannot Be Ignored!

The Ba y onet is the symbol of■combat—the willingness

to close with the enemy and fight eyeball to e y eball . It is

representative of the courage of the individual trooper
who fought the many small actions that characterized the
warfare in Vietnam.

When you pick up each Bayonet of Honor, you will
know you are holding a combat-worthy weapon. De¬
signed in 1963, each is made to full G.l. specifications with
a total of 16 parts, including two working spring-loaded
releases. And each is tested to fit the M16 Rifle.

We have specially commissioned the Imperial Knife
Company to custom make each re-issue Bayonet for this
Collection. They are using the same original tooling that
they used during the Vietnam War, and each is made in
the United States.

Twenty years ago (14 Apr 65)

U.S. Marines land in Vietnam .

However, that's where all similarity ends. An incredible
amount of hand work makes each a presentation grade
collectible, worthy of this tribute...

• The 6 ¥&" blade is heat-treated high carbon steel, pol¬
ished to a mirror finish and deeply add etched with a
tribute inscription and a jungle scene, designed by Viet¬
nam combat veteran B.J. Weber, with a dragon and ser¬
pent, symbolic of warfare in Southeast Asia. The blade
is hard flash chromed to assure lasting beauty and gold-
gilt and black enamel infilled for contrast.

• The grips are spedally made of highly polished black
phenolic, checkered to the authentic GJ. pattern, and
inset with a full color doisonne medallion of the service
branch insignia.

• 24-karat gold is thickly plated on the crossguard, two
releases, butt, two grip screws and two grip nuts — after
they are polished to a mirror finish.

o After the craftsman carefully files, fits and peens together
the 16 components that make up this Bayonet, he inspects
it in all particulars and tests it for fit on the Ml6. Then
the individual limited edition serial number is engraved
on the blade reverse.

• Finally, the numbered Certificate of Authentidty is
matched with the Bayonet, ready to deliver to you.

Limited Edition Of 2500

Although more than 2,500,000 Americans served in
Vietnam, only 2500 of each Vietnam War Bayonet of
Honor will ever be made to further assure rarity, respect
and value. Serial No. 1 of each Bayonet wfll be presented
to the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund for the recogni¬
tion they have given to all Vietnam veterans.

Contributions will also be made by the Foundation to
Vietnam veterans organizations, to help them perpetuate
the memory of those who served and to help establish a
Vietnam War Exhibit in The American Historical Founda¬
tion Museum.

First Option, Without Obligation

As an added advantage, you will be guaranteed the
opportunity, without obli g ation , to reserve subsequent
Bayonets of Honor in this series with the same serial
number — so you can systematically acquire a complete
matched set. These tributes — one to the Army, one to the
Air Force and one to the Navy — can be reserved by you,
one Bayonet at a time, in the months ahead. Each will
have different blade etchings and grip medallions bearing
the symbol of the service branch.

You may also reserve the optional display case, which
is covered and lined with velvet, with actual ribbon from
the Vietnam Service Medal mounted across the inner lid.
It is fitted with two closure clasps to store and display your
Bayonet. The cases are color coordinated for each service
branch.

HowTo Reserve: Satisfaction Guaranteed

You may easily place your reservation with a small
deposit, and credit cards are accepted. You may call toll
free (800-368-8080), use the reservation on this page or
personally visit. Satisfaction is guaranteed, and there are
no shipping charges. For an additional 515 we will per¬
sonalize your Bayonet by engraving your name, rank and
serial number on the blade reverse.

When you place your reservation, you will also be made
a Member of The American Historical Foundation, join¬
ing men such as yourself in 29 countries around the
world who share an interest in — and who helped make—
America's great military history. You will also receive spe¬
cial Information concerning the care and collecting of
military arms and advance notice of all Foundation mili¬
tary projects.

RESERVATION

Satisfaction Guaranteed or Return In 30 Days for Full Refund
To: The American Historical Foundation
1022 West Franklin Street, Dept. A8 2
Richmond, Virginia 23220
Telephone: (804) 353-1812
24-hour toll free reservations: (80€) 368-8080
Yes, I wish to reserve each of the following limited edition
Vietnam War Bayonets of Honor with 24-karat gold plating.
No shipping charges. Satisfaction guaranteed.

-Entire Series_Marine Corps _Navy

_Army _Air Force

□ Please also send the velvet display case, at $24 each, for
each Bayonet reserved.

□ My deposit (or credit card authorization) of $39 is en¬
closed. Please □ charge or □ invoice the balance due
per Bayonet...

□ in two equal monthly payments.

□ in full.

□ My payment in full is enclosed ($189 per Bayonet; display
case, add $24).

Name.

Address.....

For Visa, MasterCard or American Express, please send account
number, expiration date and signature. Virginia residents add tax.

I

A LEGACY

OF TEARS...

One of the most
long-suffering legacies of
the Vietnam War is the
plight endured by
thousands of Amerasian
children, the innocent
offspring of U.S servicemen
and Vietnamese mothers.
Vietnam, like Korea and
most Asian cultures,
socially shuns children of
mixed race, especially if
those children are already
down and out The State
Department says they are a
U.S. responsibility. Vietnam
says it is willing to send
them to this country. But
Vietnam’s Amerasian
children are the victims of a
lot of talk and very little
action.

One man is trying to
change that Father Robin
Connors of the Saint
Francis Church in
Spartanburg, S.C., has
established the Queen of
Peace Home to sponsor
Amerasian children from
Vietnam. Donations are tax
deductible. More
information is available by
writing: Queen of Peace
Home, Dept. SOF, P.O.
Box 18372,

Spartanburg, S.C.
29318.

S PFCIAL

COMMENDATION...

SOFers regularly send
boxes of field equipment to
the El Salvador/Nicaragua
Defense Fund (5721
Arapahoe Ave., Boulder,

CO 80303) but John L.
Burford has exceeded our
expectations. Some
$20,000 of spare parts for
helicopters arrived at the
SOF warehouse, and they
have since been
trans-shipped to the
grateful Salvadoran armed
forces.

Burford dedicated this
conspicuous act of patriotic
generosity to ,. all the
men who served with Co.

F (LRRP), 58th Inf. ABN,
101st ABN DIV RVN
1968.”

R andall bites

THE BULLET...

Admittedly, SOF’s Military Small Arms Editor,
Peter Kokalis, was a bit incredulous when he
heard the news. The Randall LeMay .45 ACP,
one of four stainless-steel pistols reviewed by
Kokalis in the September issue (“Waterproof
Weaponry”), is no longer in production. Despite
a reorganization effort last year, the Randall
Firearms Company was recently forced to file for
bankruptcy. Said Mr. Machinegun: “The firearms
industry continues to sail through a sea of
turmoil and the collapse of other companies now
seems certain. Randall apparently was painted
into a comer by the introduction of Colt’s
stainless-steel version of their 1911A1
Government Model. The Randall will be missed.
For one thing, the Colt Series 80 pistols all
feature a firing-pin safety mechanism that
appeals to none but Colt’s product liability
lawyers.”

HVJHyflR

A

m ojwi

K (ysi g

WfMmm Vi

G old bounty
still stands. ..

Attention, grocery shoppers in Saudi Arabia!
Forget the stamps and coupons. Go for the gold.
One SOF reader just saw $10,000 on the hoof
walk past him in a Jiddah grocery store. None
other than Idi Amin, accompanied by a few of
his large litter of children, was shopping — now
get this — the Happy Family Super Market.

Amin still is living quite comfortably in Saudi
Arabia, although he remains a very wanted man
in Uganda. A reward of $10,000 in gold for
Amin from SOF Publisher Bob Brown still
stands. The bounty is offered to anyone who can
provide information leading directly to Amin’s
live capture and return to Uganda to stand trial
for numerous crimes against humanity in general
and his fellow Ugandans in particular. Happy
hunting.

These are the types of martial arts
weapons affected by the Kennedy
bill.

W HAT NEXT,

CONGRESS?...

One of the supposed advantages of
democracy in the United States is the
freedom to say what you think. In so
doing everyone can hear the pros and
cons on which to base a rational
decision. But in matters of weapons
legislation, two things are becoming
increasingly clear. First, if pro is the
opposite of con, then progress must be
the antithesis of Congress, Second,
some of our elected members in
Congress should be seen and not
heard.

Take U.S. Sen. Ted Kennedy ...
Please.

One of Kennedy’s staff members
leaked a preliminary draft of a bill
known as the Martial Arts Weapons Bill.
As Kennedy originally intended the
legislation, it would have banned the
interstate sale and shipment of
tomahawks and Bowie knives. The
National Muzzle Loading Rifle
Association, which has many members
who use tomahawks and Bowie knives
in primitive matches, was not happy.
Neither was Jack Kelly, a black belt
martial arts instructor from South
Amherst, Mass., Kennedy’s home state.
Kelly quickly mailed a throwing star to
every member of the U.S. Senate.

Fortunately, more level-headed
members of the Senate Judiciary
Committee, where Kennedy’s bill was
referred for review, prevailed on the
liberal Democrat to make his bill more
reasonable, relatively speaking. The
Kennedy Martial Arts Weapons Bill (S.
1363) is now aimed at prohibiting
buyers from using the U.S. Postal
Service to circumvent state laws
banning the sale of three weapons: the
throwing star, nunchaku and manriki
gusari (an ancient Okinawan weapon
consisting of a handle with a weighted,
curved blade attached to it by a chain).
Senate bill 1363 specifically excludes
from its jurisdiction knives, swords and
“ceremonial and collector weapons.”

Continued on page 100

6 SOIJHI'K or FORTUNE

OCTOBER 85

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OCTOBER 85

SOMHEIt OF FOKTIJIYi: 7

DATING

I\RAMBO...

Sirs:

I’d like to commend you
on “Rambo: First Blood
Part II” (June ’85 issue).
This was a well-made
movie and I’m glad to see
that your magazine granted
it the justice it deserves.

The topic of POW/MIAs is
one that has concerned me
and many of my
co-workers (I’m a security
policeman, USAF). Though
many of us were far too
young to serve during the
Vietnam War, our hearts
and blessings are with the
men and women who
served.

Paul G. Amswald

A1C, USAF

Now that you’ve puffed
Rambo with a cover story,
don’t you think you might
get around to reviewing
books by real veterans of
the Vietnam War? I don’t
know what Stallone did in
order to avoid the service,
but I do know that Charles
Anderson, author of The
Grunts and The Rear:
Vietnam, the Other
War; Ken Miller, author of
Tiger the Lurp Dog, and
a dozen other
poverty-stricken authors
who fought in Vietnam
deserve some attention.

Jim Dunlap

Ann Arbor,

Michigan

Rambo is a film which
admirably works to
convince Americans, many
of whom are too young to
remember, of the worth of
the Vietnam War and its
warriors. They were
cmsaders denied
communion. Thus it is our
hope that a widely viewed
film like Rambo will work
to bring those veterans and
their cause back into the
hearts of America in a way
special-audience books
never shall. And we
haven } t excluded such
books; we print as many
critiques of veterans’
literature as any national
magazine. We simply have
not had room for all their
reviews.

FLAK

T he issue of

TERRORISM...

Sirs:

I would like to take this somber occasion
[American civilian hostages held in Beirut this
past July] to thank you for excellent reporting in
SOF. I have been a subscriber since 1976 and
find it the most complete way of keeping up with
significant military events: the news other media
don’t publish.

Carey W. Taylor
Harrisburg, Pennsylvania

We're saddened and shamed that a handful of
hoodlums can dictate terms to us. But that's the
kind of foreign policy that results from a culture
so devoid of a sense of mission that it can't
make hard choices . The questions raised by this
are hard, too, and you can read some of the
answers in an incoming feature on Iran and the
terror network.

B G-15

BLUNDER...

Sirs:

I must say that SOF keeps its
readers well-informed on a wide
area of information. I really enjoyed
the July ’85 issue, but I did pick up
one minor mistake. David Isby’s
“Soviet BG-15” mentions that the
RPG-18 is a copy of the U.S. LAW.
In fact, it’s not the U.S. M76 LAW
but an M72-A2 LAW that is used in
today’s U.S. Armed Forces.

Michael E. Hair

Sneads Ferry, North Carolina

Sorry about the typo. We're as
dedicated to accuracy as anyone
and we're thankful for readers like
you who help keep us on track.

f EGISLATIVE

Lgun grabbing?...

Sirs:

I’d like to call attention to a
number of unfair anti-gun bills
pending in the California State
Legislature. Bill AB 1509 by
Assemblyman Art Agnos would limit
the ownership of many
semiautomatic weapons such as the
Ruger Mini-14, HK 91, 93, and 94,
and the Colt AR-15. Only those
persons whom the Attorney General
finds to have a “good” reason for
owning one of these firearms could
be issued an ownership permit.

Touted as a crime prevention bill,
it would only infringe on all the
Second Amendment rights of the
law-abiding gun owner. Don’t let
would-be gun grabbers take away
your semiauto sporters. Write your
congressmen and assemblymen
now.

Douglas J. Lovell
Pacific Grove, California

This is an unbelievable law, but —
thank God — it appears to be
failing; not the least because of NRA
lobbying and mail drives. NRA
membership is still the best money
you can spend to protect your rights.

8 SOLI) I Ell OF FOItTIJNE

OCTOBER 85

The Black Book Of Dirty Tricks. Improvised
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after (until now impossible to obtain) Army
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Mortars & Rockets, Incendiary Devices,
Fuses, Ignition & Delay Mechanisms. Pius
how to manufacture Rocket Launchers,
Pistols, Shotguns, and Recoilless Rifles from
easy to obtain materials. And much more!
New expanded edition! Limited number
available!

ORDER NOW! Order No. BB $10.00

7 Mini-Mag. Tiny size, has all the quality
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8 USAF L-2B Right Jacket Official Air

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F onda
footage. ..

Sirs:

Accuracy in Media
recently aired “Television’s
Vietnam: The Real Story,”
a critique of the PBS
13-part “Vietnam, A
Television History.” In it
Hanoi Jane Fonda was
shown dancing and
prancing among her
commie North Vietnamese
hosts — all smiles as she
mounted the active
anti-aircraft piece being
used to shoot down
American patriots. We
haven’t seen this film
footage since 1972;
America’s youth have
never seen it. And being
the darling of the media
her recent career successes
(and millions) are no
surprise.

AIM is to be commended
for including this footage.
It’s a big part of what went
wrong in Vietnam. AIM
plans to air the critique on
cable TV in September and
is looking for tax-deductible
contributions to fund an
aggressive publicity
campaign. Contributions
should go to: AIM Film
Cable TV Project, Dept
SOF, P.0. Box 28390,
Washington, DC 20005.
Robert G. Wheaton,
ETR3 USN (Ret)
San Antonio, Texas

P ROFILE

OF A FOX?...

Sirs:

I just finished the article
on RKB in the August
Anniversary issue. Very
interesting. But you left out
a very important part.

Since this guy is such a
total fox, is he married?
Next time do a centerfold.
J.R. Dailey
Vail, Arizona

Editor/Publisher Brown
thanks you for your kind
words but informs us he is
married to his work But he
does appreciate the fan
mail.

R emembering
viet vets. ..

Sirs:

I just returned from Washington D.C. and
during my stay I took time to visit the Vietnam
Memorial. Between this emotional experience,
your firm position on the men who fought that
war, and National Geographic coverage of the
memorial, I thought it would be appropriate to
write about this experience.

When I visited the memorial, I started to cry. It
was somewhat embarassing because 50-year-old
men don’t cry in broad daylight and in front of
all those people. Right? Wrong! When I looked
around, 80 percent of the people were doing the
same thing.

Because there are people like you, the history
books will reflect the sacrifices and contributions
all these people made on behalf of the people of
the United States of America.

Leonard Stefanelli
San Francisco, California

I know there are a lot of Vietnam vets out
there that read Soldier of Fortune so I am writing
to all who served there. I know how you were
treated when you got home but I have always
respected you. You’re a special breed of soldier
and 1 would like to say thanks and welcome
home. I am proud of you. I’d love to hear from
any Nam Vets, particularly anyone who fought
on Hill 861 from January to March ’68.

Diedrie Hulshof
6371 Clymer Road
Coloma, Michigan 49038

We must all come to terms with what we lost:
lives, limbs, friends, innocence and — for a short
time — pride . But it’s important to remember
that America did fight a hard, dirty war and even
though we didn’t fight it the right way, we fought
for the right reasons. America is only now
learning to honor our dedication to the freedom
of others during the Vietnam War.

m BMJ'HHWE....

S tudents aid

AFGHANS...

Sirs:

Please find a donation to the
Afghan Freedom Fighters Fund. The
money was raised in a class project
by students who raised money from
the sale of printed shirts. Enclosed is
also the silkscreen for your use for
sale, donation or distribution to help
raise further funds for the Afghans.
From the response I have had while
wearing the shirt I’d say considerable
funds could be raised for the Afghan
Freedom Fighters. We earnestly
hope so.

Jim Adams

Social Studies Teacher
Brablec High School
Roseville, Michigan
We’re confident that the shirts will
be a hit with our readers. They’ll be
on sale at the Sixth Annual SOF
Convention and Combat Weapons
Military Expo, and, of course,
through the magazine >. So keep an
eye out for them.

P UBLISHING
CONGRATS...

Sirs:

I write to express my appreciation
to you and your staff for your help
and cooperation in my research for
“The Vietnam Experience,” a
Time Life/Boston Publishing book
series. The information on SOF and
modem mercenaries will be
incorporated into a sidebar that will
appear in volume 17 of the series.
Sandra Jacobs
Boston Publishing Company,
Inc.

Boston, Massachusetts ^

10 SOMMER OF FORTUNE

OCTOBER 85

Learn at Home in Spare Time

LEARN GUN REPAIR

f SEND
FOR FREE
. FACTS!

Start Your
Own Home
Business

1X1 LXI

—» X H

O in u.

Z -

MAKE MONEY! HAVE FUN TOO! Start Right
Now! No Previous Experience Necessary

IN YOUR FIRST LESSON we reveal a
secret of ballistics that can increase your
hunting accuracy so dramatically...ALL
YOUR FRIENDS WILL BEG YOU TO SHOW

THEM HOW TO DO IT! The men you shoot
with will scarcely believe their eyes when they
witness your sensationally improved shooting ac¬
curacy. (You may even have trouble believing it
yourself!) It seems like a miracle—yet, it’s part of
your training on the way to becoming a gun pro.

The way you do it is the simple application of
revealing new information concerning ballistics
that is explained with a simple, easy-to-understand
chart that accompanies your
first lesson. And this is just
one example of the dozens crt
inside tips and gun secrets J
that will be revealed to you
as you progress through
this exciting course.

GUNS ARE BIG BUSI¬
NESS. Gun repair, cus-

I tom ammo-making, sporter-
izing, custom stocking,
sales—all are profit oppor¬
tunities for the expert. Now,
at home in spare time, you
can learn the basics you
need to become that expert.

We do not know how many
of our graduates have
started their owRb^gun
shops, but we have letters
on file from some who have.

And we’ll send you the re¬
sults of a survey
showing employ¬
ment success of j
Our graduates. |

FIRST FOLD HERE

TOP-FLIGHT GUN “PRO'S” TELL YOU WHAT TO 00,
HOW TO DO IT, GUIDE YOU EVERY STEP OF THE WAY.

You’ll see how to take apart and repair almost
every well-known rifle, shotgun, pistol and auto¬
matic. We take the mystery out of ballistics. Show
you how to smooth up actions, fit and repair
stocks, rechoke shotguns, customize handguns.
Includes bedding techniques, stock inletting, fit¬
ting drop and pitch. Learn what the experts know
about reloading. Special section on black powder
guns. How to buy and sell guns for profit.

As a “Gun Pro” trainee at North American WE SHOW
YOU HOW TO APPLY FOR A FEDERAL FIREARMS
LICENSE If you qualify otherwise, you may obtain
a Federal License to buy and sell guns, ammuni-
tiorrand accessories without inventory...while you
are still a student at North American. This means
you can begin making extra cash almost immedi¬
ately-ordering guns for others on a cost-plus
basis. It also helps you get started toward a
business of your own,..if that is what you want
after you graduate.

Everything Explained in Easy-To-Under-
stand Language so Even a Beginner Can
Follow Explanations include photos,
diagrams, drawings and charts. We send
you all the tools you need so you actually
learn by doing as you follow the lessons.
You receive catalogs, bargain bulletins, re¬
quirements for Federal Firearms License.

Special Tools and Equipment Included

You get precision gauges, fine gunsmith’s
screwdrivers, checkering tools, plus much,
much more.

'W' FIRST FOLD HERE

NO POSTAGE NECESSARY
v when you mail this ENTIRE
^ Postage-Paid ad

To Mail—Fold Ad in the following manner:

1. Remove entire page— 3. Fold page again, on
tear or cut on dotted line 2nd fold lines
to left 4. Tape or glue the 3

2. Fold page in half on open sides and drop
1st fold lines in the mail box today.

GUN REPAIR. BALLISTICS, SHOOTING
SKILLS, REVEALED TO YOU BY EXPERTS

Covers everything you ever wanted to know
about guns. Gives you the start you need to
go into your own business or apply for a
good job.

$ 0 *

{j CUSTOMIZING | j RE-LOADING |
[CHECKERING 1 I SPORTERIZING |

| CUSTOM AMMO | [GUN REPAIR 1

GUN SALES

MEAN PROFITS FOR REPAIRMEN

There are more than 20 million
hunters plus more millions of target

SALES, IMPORTING* ACCUR I ZING j

["trouble-shooting"]

and MUCH, MUCH MORE / MOflf y J

WITH

Dept. RS095

shooters, gun collectors and owners in the U.S.

guns ,

c NAME.

AGE_

ADDRESS _

C1T Y/STATE/ZIP
PHONE NO.(

)-

u.

Q

Z

o

o

LXI

</)

OCTOBER 85

SOLDIER OF FORTUNE 11

SHERWOOD KEEPSYOU GOING

IN HIGH GEAR!

NEW MILITARY
CLOTHING AND HATS

If not certain about size, send measurements.

□ ORIGINAL GJ. 5 BUTTON SWEATER

100% Acrylic in O.D. or Black. S.M, Lor XL. SI 9.95

□ U.S.M.C. SHOOTING JACKET

O.D. green-blue-black, woodland camo, tiger
stripe, day desert. Padded elbows and shoulders,
button front, bi-swing back (L&XLJ.

FSN 8415-082-2888 $29.00

MA-I U.SAF.
FLYING JACKET

sa\/£

$ B.0°

D FLOATKNIFE

This Medical-Survival Kit is so light it floatsllhe water
tight handle is imprinted with Morse Code and
Emergency Rescue Signals. Fluid filled compass
included. $34.95

Reg-

$ 44.^5

MISCELLANEOUS

□ NEW 1985 ISSUE ORIGINAL G! SLEEPING BAG

□ MA-1 U.SAF FLYING JACKET | SPECIAL $36.95~|
Nylon Shell w/reversrble international orange
lining Two inner & two outer pockets, zipped
pocket & pen holders on left sleeve Knit col¬
lar, cuffs & waistband Specify black or sage
green FSN 1615-522-6014 Sizes XS. S, M, L,

add S5 00 for XL

□ O.D. GREEN RIP-STOP $26.95 ca

PANTS OR JACKETS ONLY 100% COTTON

THE FOLLOWING FATIGUES are reinforced at all
stress points— knees, backside, elbows, etc. Made
of heavy duty construction, 50% cotton/50% nylon.
Jackets have 4 pockets, pants have 6 pockets with
adjustable waist straps, belt loops and ankle draw
strings.

□ DAY DESERT CAMOUFLAGE $49.95/*®t

FATIGUES Latest Issue FSN 8415-01-102-6766

S. M. L, add S4.00 for XL.

□ DAY DESERT PANTS or JACKET ONLY $28.95 ca
S. M. L. add S 2 00 for XL FSN 8415-102-6804

□ WOODLAND CAMOUFLAGE $49.95/sat

FATIGUES Latest Issue. FSN 8415-01-084-1647

S. M. L, add S4 00 for XL

□ WOODLAND CAMOUFLAGE $28.95 «a

PANTS or JACKET S. M. I,
add S2 00 for XL FSN 8415-084-1713

□ "BOONIES" ORIGINAL G.l.

CAMO JUNGLE HAT

With large brass screen vents. Specify; Wood¬
land. Day Desert. O.D Green or USMC Camo

1) Mountain, M1949 Sleeping Bag, FSN 8465-242-
7855. Temperature range from -14° to +50°F
(—26° to +10°C). $59.95

2) Intermediate Cold, Type 1, FSN 8465-518-2804.
Temperature range from -40° to +I0°F (-40°
to — 12°C). $89.95

3J Extreme Cold, Type 11, FSN 8465-518-2804.
Temperature range from +10°F (—12°CJ and
below. $199.95

□ SLEEPING BAG COVERS $14,00

□ U.S. G.l. SLEEPING PAD FSN 8465-109-3369

Latest 1985 Issue. Replaces former leaky air
mattresses. Lightweight roll-up design, B" Diameter
rolled up. Overall Dimensions 24"W x 6'2"L Perfect
for camping or backpacking. 18.5 oz. $11.95

□ ORIGINAL U.S. ARMY $5.95 ma or 6/$30.00
FLASHLIGHTS

2 cell. Extra H.D. flashlight. O.D color, water¬
tight. belt clip, spare butb and 3 extra lenses.

Batt. not included. FSN 6230-264-8261

□ G.l. LENSATIC COMPASS

Comes with neck strap & G.l. nylon carrying case
FSN 6605-151-5337 $34.95

UNIQUE ACCESSORIES

Sizes. 7. 7V*. 7Vi. 7V* FSN 8415-102-6781 $11.95

For the Outdoorsman

□ ELIMINATOR BOOT

NOMENCLATURE: Weight: 38 ounces per pair,
ultra LI WT Height: 8-3/4 tqugh inches, upper of
full grain leather and Cordura® nylon, 1000 DNR,
Thinsulate® all weather insulation, Gore-tex®
fabric factory seam sealed bootie liner (WATER¬
PROOF). Rocky® support system orthopedic inner-
sole. Cambrelle® the
living lining. Thermo
tech® unbreakable
shank, Texon® foun¬
dation TERRAIN
outsole. Quick lace,
rust proof speed lace
system. Taslon® lace.
Made in U.S.A.
ROCKY® BOOTS
Special $89.95 plus $3.00 shipping. *At the

SOF Convention in L.V,Sept. 20-22 at booth

COMBAT KNIVES & BAYONETS

□ ORIGINAL U.S. M 1943 MACHETE $13.00

new with scabbard. 18" blade FSN 5110-B13-1286

□ GERBER MARK I SURVIVAL KNIFE $49.50

Comes with combination boot/belt scabbard,
quicte release strap & double edged tempered

4 3 /4" blade

□ USMC COMBAT KNIFE $22.00

Parkenzed 7“ blade original G.l. w/leather sheath:
FSN 1095-392-4102

□ MILITARY STYLE GUN CARRYING CASES

Heavy Duty, water repellent, mildew resistant.
O.D. green with black nylon web handles. Heavy
duty nylon zipper

□ Ml GARAND, M-14/M1A, FN FAL $29.95
46" length

□ COLT ARI5, HK 91/93 44" length $26.95

□ CAR 15. AR1B0, 36" length $24.95

□ MINI 14, Ml CARBINE, $21.95

REM 870 42" length

□ UZI. MAC'S, MP-5, 28" length $22.50

□ COLT GOVT MODEL or COMBAT COMMD. 9.95

□ CONVERT-A-KIT -*

Converts your ART into a Carbine.

• Made of ABS lightweight plastic compounds

• Installs in minutes and is easily removable

• Advanced design barrel guard $32.95

*

¥

¥

¥

NOW Available
Sherwood's Gift Certificates!

¥ Good For Any Item In This Ad.

□ KHAKI WATCH by HAMILTON

Water resistant, shock resistant, 2 nylon web
bands olive & khaki, and a one year mfg. warranty.

Our price $58.50 Retail S70.00 SAVE $11.50

□ NEW Quartz model w/calendar also available

for ONLY $69.00 Retail S79.95 SAVE $10.95

□ PAC-AX

□ NOVA XR-5000 NON-LETHAL $ 89.95

ELECTRONIC STUNGUN™ Shipping Included!
Over Forty-Thousand Volts of Electricity in the palm
of your hand. This XR-5000 is a civilian service unit,
safe and effective as an excellent alternative to a
gun. It comes complete with a 9V Nickel-Cadmium
battery recharging unit and carrier with belt clip.
Measuring 6"x2y4"xl"and weighing only 8 ozs.

This Axe can safely open and close for easy carrying
in a belt-loop pouch. Open length 11 Vz", cutting
edge2V2? -_ $24.95

#1 Order Now
$4.00 ea. plus .75$

Poster measures 16-1/2" x 23-1/2"

Specify Poster #1,2 or both at $700 plus ,75$

For those who missed, "Miss Sherwood 1984," still 53.50

GUN BOOKS & MILITARY MANUALS

□ SMALL ARMS IDENTIFICATION AND OPERATION
GUIDE - EURASIAN COMMUNIST
COUNTRIES $14.95

We have what is probably the most comprehensive
intelligence manual ever put together regarding
Eurasian and communist small arms. There are over
350 pages profusely illustrated regarding assembly,
disassembly identification, accessories and
ammunition for weapons.

□ SMALL CALI8ER AMMUNITION IDENTIFICATION
GUIDE. DST-11S0G-514-8! Vol. I $6.95

This manual was put together by the Department
of Defense Intelligence Agency. It is the best guide
there is for identifying military cartridges up to 15 mm.
as to cartridge designation, country of manufacture,
and to a large extent, functional bullet type. A must
for every serious military cartridge collector.

GEAR UP FOR ACTION
WITH SHERWOOD!

UNIQUE ACCESSORIES

For the Outdoorsman

$16.95

□ US. AIR FORCE FISHING

SURVIVAL KIT W x 2Va" x |"

FSN 7810-558-2685 for fresh or salt water fish
ing. Includes: Instruction booklet, watertight
plastic case, 8 assorted flies, 2 treble hooks,
straight shank hook, assorted leader packed,
18 & 63 lb. nylon lines, assorted hooks, nee¬
dles, 8 — size 3 safety pins, 6 assorted spin¬
ners, baby copper, large chrome and red &
white spoons

Yours FREE
with any
order
over $75.

Sherwood’s

own

waterproof,
black nylon
mini duffle

^0*1 /4" x 5-3/4' ^

□ COMBAT/CONCEALMENT HOLSTER - $14.95|
DON HUME MODEL II-SAVE 510.00-
Fits all .45 autos & Browning Hi-POwers, all
leather. Specify left or Rt. hand

□ 1 Va" LEATHER MILITARY SUNGS $15.95 ea

Solid brass fittings, pre-oiled finish, saddle
leather, fits: M-l Garand, MI4 (MIA), U.S.

M1917 Enfield, Springfield CA & A3,

Johnson Semi-Auto, Win 97. Win M-l 2

□ LSA WEAPONS OIL, CASE SPECIAL $29.99
Of 24 - 40Z. BOTTLES FSN 9150-889-3522

□ CHAPMAN GUN SCREWDRIVER KIT $19.95

-j Made of chrome nickel

* % i.* * t? molybdenum alloy
steel, 2 phillips bits,
handle, ratchet and alien
hex 12 interchangeable
bits w/parallel sides,
adapter.

□ M19I1/A! .45 AUTO, FIELD
MAINTENANCE KIT

Genuine G.l. carrying case b'/i" x 2Vi * con¬
tains eight parts most commonly needed to
keep your .45 shooting. Firing pin, extractor,
magazine, firing pin spring, ejector, sear spring,
recoil spring & combo tool. Moisture resistant
packaged & attaches to web gear. $24.95

□ M16/ARI5 SURVIVAL EMERGENCY KIT $48.95
This kit comes packaged same as above & in¬
cludes an extractor, extractor spring, extractor
pin, ejector, ejector spring, ejector pin,

rings (3 each), firing pin, firing pin ret. pmfc^U
disconnect, disconnect spring, trigger pin, GJ
carrying case. Buy nowand save $10.00

□ M-16/A1 tr-r^

□ RUGER 10/22 50 Rd. magazine-

□ TAN LEATHER CARRYING CASE

□ U.S. M7 LEATHER 45 AUTO $19.95

SHOULDER HOLSTER FSN 1095-973-2353
Black color — Rt. hand only, also fits Browning
Hi-Power and S&W M-39. Brand new. Orig. G.L

CLIPS, MAGAZINES & POUCHES

ALL ITEMS BRAND NEW

□ NEW G.l. .45 $6.95 44,

AUTO MAGS $60.00/10

□ NEW G.l. CARBINE MAGAZINE POUCH

w/4-30 SHOT MAGS. $19.95

□ ARI5/MI6 30 RD. 3-MAGAZINE POUCH $6.95

□ ARI5/M16 POUCH W/3-30 $23.95

ROUND MAG.

□ RUGER MINI 14 30 RD. $12.95

MAGAZINE, BLUE

□ RUGER MINI 14 POUCH W/3-30 RD. $39.95
MAGS, BLUE

□ FN FAL .308 $19.95 ea., $35.00/2

20 RD. MAG.

□ (2J FN FAL MAGS. W/USED POUCH $35.00

□ BROWNING HI-POWER $11.00 ea, $19.95/2
9MM 13 RD. MAGAZINE, STAINLESS STEEL

STEINER BINOCULARS AND SCOPES|

□ STEINER BINOCULARS, 6X30G $125.00 $209.00

Performs brilliantly, extremely compact for nature
and sports. Outstanding stereo optic effect.

f'U wL

mm SALE

Reg. Price

□ 7x35G Military/Manne

$147.00

$179.95

□ 8x30G Military/Marine

$107.00

179.00

□ 7x50G Military/Marine

$189.00

315.00

□ 10x50G Military/Marine

$529.00

699.00

□ 7x50 Commander with Compass $411.00

685.00

STEINER 4x24 NATO RIFLE SCOPE

□ Nato Post Mount, complete with carrying case

and lens covers $399.95 $499.00

□ HK Rail Mount for NATO Scopes $149.95 226.00

□ M-16 Post Mount 37.95

□ Steiner Scope and HK Mount $549.90

□ Steiner Scope and M-16 Mount $437.90

UPPER RECEIVER ^5
Complete with forward assist plunger assem¬
bly (latest tear drop type) installs on any ARI5
sporter, without machining. Original colt, be¬
ware of imitationsl NOW $99.00

□ MI6/AI MAINTENANCE KIT

All materials brand new G.l. issue. Includes:
new carrying case, tooth brush, bottle LSA oil.
bore cleaner, cleaning rod. bore brush and
chamber brush. $10.95

□ M- I6/A2 TYPE ROUND ASSAULT
HANDGUARDS for ARJ5

Similar to CARI5/shorty grips. These are
round, ribbed and won't crack, chip or scratch
like original beavertarl types. Come complete
with heat shields and instructions. Lifetime
Guaranty From MFR. $24.95

SCOPES & MOUNTS

□ AIMPOINT ELECTRONIC SIGHT MKIII
Includes 2 polarizing filters and variable in¬
tensity aiming point. No magnification, paral-
lex-free. Just point & pull. $159.00

PACKS & WEB GEAR

□ TANKERS TOOL BAG, U.S. ARMY ISSUE ^$19.95
Heavy duck canvas. O.D green tool bag. 20"x6"xl0"

□ U.S. ARMY LC-1 (ALICE PACK) 19"x20"xir $69.95
Brand new G.l. back pack
designed to carry loads up
to 50 lbs. Complete with
shoulder straps, quick release
buckles & attachment loops
for carrying extra equipment.

Water repellent, rip stop nylon,

O.D. qreen. 8465-019-9102 ‘

□ COMPLETE ALICE PACK & FRAME NOW $109.95

□ MECHANICS TOOL BAG 5140-329-4306 $19.95
O.D. canvas, masonite bottom, web handle.

8 small inside pockets, 23 large outside divided ^
pockets, brass zipper, dimen. 11 "L x 6"W x 7"H.

□ LC-2 STEEL & ALUMINUM FSN 8465-073-8326

PACK FRAMES 1985 issue, complete with
padded shoulder straps & quick release
attachments. Great for cargo transport $59.95

□ LC-1 NYLON COMBAT HARNESS NOW $26.96
ASSEMBLY SAVE $4.45

Outfit consists of O.D. green suspenders,
pistol belt, canteen cover and plastic canteen.

All original G.L issue. FSN 8465-LC1-COMP

□ LC-2 NYLON PISOL WITH LATEST "SILENT"

QUICK RELEASE BUCKLE $11.95

■nN

CATALOG

Everything is here, hard to find parts, accessories &
gear. Please send a dollar (Refundable on first order)
to cover our postage & handling. Catalog is free
with order.

ORDERING

SHIPPING, HANDLING 4 INSURANCE

AMOUNT

SEND

AMOUNT

SEND

Up to $15.00..

„ $2.50

$76.00 to $99.00..

6.00

$15.00 to $30.00.

3.00

$100.00 to $150.00.

7.50

$31.00 to $49.00.

4.00

$151.00 to $200.00.

8.50

$50.00 to $75.00.

5.00

Shipping on orders $201.00 or more, and all foreign
orders will be handled on a case-by-case basis.
Minimum order is $10. All major credit cards, checks &
money orders are accepted. Please write credit card in¬
formation down with signature and exp. date along
with order on another sheet or xerox and use these
pages as your order form. Be sure to include the proper
shipping, insurance & handling charges Calif, residents
add 6!/7% sales tax. If you're not sure about sizes send
your measurements. Thank you!

□ M-l CARBINE MOUNT W/BUSHNELL $55.95
4 X SCOPE Rings Ind.

□ M-l CARBINE MOUNT W/BUSHNELL

3X9 VARIABLE SCOPE Rings Incl. $68.95

□ ORIGINAL COLT AR15/M 16 3 X 20 $ 159.00

SCOPE, NEW Installs in Seconds

□ ORIGINAL COLT AR15/M16 4 X 20 $180.00

SCOPE, NEW

SO? 04t

SHERWOOD

International Export Corporation

8004235237

Calif, residents or for info, call 818-349-7600

Mail to: SHERWOOD INTERNATIONAL
18714 PARTHENIA ST.. DEPT SF10
NORTHRIDGE, CALIFORNIA 91324
Sorry No C.O.D.s: Send □ Check □ Money Order

□ American Express □ Diners Club

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_Exp. Dare _

* JOt& A*uUue>u<vuf{ t

©1985 Sherwood Internationa/

A

I» recent re-interpretation of the
provisions and regulations of the 1968
Gun Control Act by the Firearms and
Explosives Imports Branch of the
BATF has drastically stemmed the flow
of Title II “dealer samples” into the
United States.

In addition to a few other authorized
purposes, these NFA (National
Firearms Act of 1934) weapons can be
imported solely for use as law-
enforcement sales samples by a Class
3 dealer through a registered Class 1
importer. Section 179.111 of the
federal law stipulates that the burden
of proof rests on the importer or dealer
to demonstrate that he is complying
with these standards. Previously a sim¬
ple statement by the Class 3 dealer that
he was purchasing the weapon for law-
enforcement demonstration purposes
only was deemed sufficient. No longer.

The dealer must now submit a de¬
tailed explanation that includes the fol¬
lowing: 1) justification for the weapon’s
use in law enforcement, i.e., most belt-
fed machine guns will probably not
qualify (a totally unwarranted and
capricious subjective assessment on the
part of the BATF) — while submachine
guns and assault rifles will probably
meet this BATF-imposed “standard” of
appropriate police weaponry; 2) the
dealer must certify that a sufficient in¬
ventory of this weapon exists at some
level to fill subsequent orders (weapons
on the Curios & Relics list will not qual¬
ify); 3) a list of the prospective custom¬
ers and previous demonstrations and
sales; and finally, 4) . .letters from

law-enforcement agencies expressing a
need fora particular model of firearm or
interest in seeing a demonstration of a
particular firearm would be relevant.”

No doubt a number of firearms were
imported as sales samples and not
actually used for this purpose, but
rather to enhance personal collections.
Most Class 3 dealers have no estab¬
lished relationships with law-
enforcement agencies. They had bet¬
ter develop some — fast, if they ever
expect to import another machine gun.

Some importers have reacted to this
fuss in the anticipated manner. Heckler
& Koch has announced that they will
no longer import Title II dealer sam¬
ples. Several smaller importers have
turned belly-up. Those few that remain
have reported a 60-percent rejection
rate by BATF on Class 3 dealer ap¬
plications to import. If there is a dis¬
cernible pattern to the rejections, it
seems to weigh heavily against Class 3
dealers who already have considerable
numbers of dealer samples in inven¬
tory and do not document user interest
in the item they wish to import.

All of this will have mixed results
depending on who you are. Class 3
dealers with large inventories of unre-

Fleming Firearms selective-fire Mini
47 conversion of semiauto Chinese
AKS fitted with rare 20-rd.
Kalashnikov magazine. Photo: Peter
Kokalis

stricted-transfer weapons are already
nibbing their hands in glee as they
watch the value of their merchandise
escalate in response to the increasing
demand and now further diminished
supply. And yet another breed of cat
now looms on the horizon, ready to
supply rattle guns to the ever expand¬
ing hoard of auto-weapons enthusiasts
— the Class 2 manufacturer. These
individuals specialize, among other
things, in legal, unrestricted-transfer,
full-auto conversions of the semiauto¬
matic-only versions of military small
arms marketed in this country In this
area caveat emptor (let the buyer be¬
ware) prevails with sinister certainty, as
there are more than enough incom¬
petents peddling their pathetic wares
to the unwary.

But most assuredly not all are of this
ilk. There are a few — very few —
consummate artisans who create faith¬
ful duplicates of the factory selective-
fire versions and sometimes even im¬
prove the original form. One such is
William H. Fleming (Fleming Firearms,
Dept. SOF, 7720 E, 126 Street N.,
Collinsville, OK 74021).

FULL AUTO

by Peter G. Kokalis

Okie Krinkov

I have one of Fleming's more exotic
creations, the so-called Mini 47. Bill
started with a folding-stock, semiauto¬
matic PRC (People’s Republic of Chi¬
na) AKS rifle. He then cut the barrel
back at the muzzle end to an overall
length of 12 inches, re-installing the
front sight and muzzle device (after re¬
threading the muzzle). To achieve a
12-inch barrel length, he moved the
gas block back about two inches after
tapping a new gas vent in the barrel.
The gas tube and cleaning rod are also
chopped accordingly. All of this re¬
quires a new piston as well, which
Fleming fabricates from 4140 bar-
stock gun steel and re-attaches to the
bolt carrier.

Original AKM''AKS factory parts are
used for the trigger mechanism’s selec¬
tive-fire conversion, including the auto
safety sear. The sear hole is located
and drilled using a jig Fleming con¬
structed from a factory selective-fire
rifle. The semiautomatic-only blocking
tab (located just below the selector lev¬
er on the right side of the receiver) is
removed and the selector positions re¬
located in the proper Kalashnikov
sequence (full auto is always the mid¬
dle position). An “A” indicating the
full-auto position has been carefully
stamped into the receiver wall. Bill
plans an even shorter version with the

14 SOLVlEll OF FOIlTiJNE

OCTOBER 85

front sight heliarc welded to the top of
the gas block.

Very interesting ... but does it
work?

You bet it does. By carefully altering
spring pressures and release times,
Fleming has dropped the cyclic rate
from the original 600 rpm to about 500
rpm. Even the most inexperienced
operator can be taught to tick off two-
round bursts after no more than two
magazines. Muzzle blast is far less than
the Colt M16A1/2 Commando and
muzzle climb appears to be no greater
than the standard Kalashnikov. The
accuracy potential — never phe¬
nomenal in any weapon of this series
— has not been degraded at normal
ranges of engagement. Felt recoil, hit
probability and reliability are also un¬
altered by the Fleming conversion.

There were no stoppages of any
kind during a firing test of 1,000
rounds of assorted Yugoslav, PRC,
Russian and reloaded (PRC cases with
Vz52 propellant and projectiles)
ammunition.

The Mini 47, to which I have added _
the rare 20-round magazine, makes a
nasty little car gun. Very shortly 1 ex¬
pect to be tooling around the streets of
San Salvador in the usual armor-
plated Jeep Wagoneer with this green
tracer machine sitting on my lap. What
more can I say?

Fleming’s greatest emphasis,
however, has been placed on the con¬
version of the Heckler & Koch series of
weapons. Using factory parts and
duplicates made to H&K specifica¬
tions, he can convert your HK94 9mm
carbine to an MP5, the compact MP5K
(that still utilizes the factory buttstock, if
you desire) or, with Doc Dater compo¬
nents, into a suppressed MP5SD with
an integral suppressor unit that’s dedi¬
cated to the weapon (only one tax
stamp is thus required for sale to indi¬
viduals). Your 5.56mm HK93 can be
turned into an HK33 or a short-
barreled HK53 that looks and operates
exactly like the factory original. The
7.62mm HK91 can be converted to
the G3 configuration or Fleming’s so-
called selective-fire HK51 with an 8.9-
inch barrel (the big-bore boys will real¬
ly drool over this Frankenstein)! Flem¬
ing’s magic wand also transfigures
AR15s to Ml6s, UZI carbines into sub¬
machine guns and Ml .30 Carbines
into M2s. Finally, he has just perfected
a conversion of the Steyr AUG — no
mean feat.

Bill Fleming offers his superb selec¬
tive-fire weapons to law-enforcement
agencies and Class 3 dealers exclusive¬
ly. Police agencies should inquire on
their letterhead. Class 3 dealers must
submit a copy of their FFL and ATF
identification letter for further details.
Fleming’s prices are more than fair and
his craftsmanship is outstanding. ^

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OCTOBER 85

SOEIHEK OF FORTUNE 15

BATTLE

BLADES

by Bill Bagwell

Carlson’s Gung Ho Bowie

ReMEMBER when Randolph Scott
led Carlson’s Raiders against the
Japanese? Well, don’t worry about it if
you haven’t already seen Scott’s inter¬
pretation of Evans Carlson in Gung
Ho! From the view of a knife collector,
maker or user, the movie didn’t cut it.
The troops of the Marines’ wayward
commando leader weren’t carrying the
Marine Raider Bowie.

Unlike the Sykes-Fairbaim, K-BAR
or most other legendary knives of
World War II, the Carlson’s Raider
Bowie wasn’t ever in issue. James
Roosevelt, Carlson’s XO, bought the
privately distributed knife from Case
Cutlery of Bradford, Pa., with Raider
Battalion funds. It wasn’t bought on a
government contract and only a few
hundred knives were purchased for
use of Carlson’s troops.

This knife was famous in WWII as
the Carlson’s Raider Knife, but the
Raiders weren’t the only ones to use
them. Known by type as the V-44, this
general-purpose survival/combat
blade was also produced by Collins
Co. of Hartford, Conn, and Western
Cutlery of Boulder, Colo. Both com¬
panies’ big Bowies still closely follow
the original V-44 design. Green hom
grips distinguish the Collins-made
Carlson Bowie from the regular V-44.

A bulky knife at 14Vs inches overall
and 4 3 /s inches across the quillions, it
handles surprisingly well. The blade is
a sweeping, deep-bellied, 9V2-inch ex-'
aggerated Bowie profile with a shallow
clip cut about 3 Vz inches back from the
point. Friend Eric Strahl’s much-
sharpened specimen is still over 2 inch¬
es wide at the blade’s belly, though it
dwindles to l 3 /s inches at the guard. At
its thickest the blade is. 178 inches and
the metal stock tapers forward and
backward from a point about an inch in’
front of the guard.

Two 4V4-inch “blood grooves” are
ground into each side of the knife pro¬
ceeding toward the point from about
an inch in front of the guard. Since the
grooves are ground out of the stock
(and corroded at the bottom) they’re
very uneven, averaging about .020
inches deep.

A quillioned guard is the next thing
(after sheer bulk) that draws the eye.
Cast from soft bronze, it sports terminal
balls fully Vfe-inch across. The guard is
otherwise Vi-inch thick and 7 /s-inch
wide.

Perhaps a concession to the concept
of camouflage, the usual V-44/
machete handle of black synthetic has
been replaced with green hom. The
handle is a normal machete-type
bird’s-head and the hom scales are
attached to the full tang by five brass
rivets. There is no thong-hole.

Now, before I further my reputation
as a slaughterer of sacred cattle, let me

Bulky battle blade: Carlson’s Raider Bowie
distinguished from ordinary V-44 survival
knife by green horn grip. Photo: Dale
Andrade

tell you what’s good about this knife. In
performance, it’s probably the best de¬
sign in general service in WWII. It’s a
fairly quick knife largely because it’s
built of such light stock, leverage is
fairly good because of the blade’s 9Vz-
inch length and deep belly, momen¬
tum is better than average because so
much of the knife’s metal mass sits
two-thirds of the way up the blade and
the bird’s-head handle of hom pro¬
vides excellent grip security.

Between the V-44 and a K-BAR
there’s just no choice. Carlson’s Bowie
is better in the field or in a fight than the
Browning Automatic Rifle blade.

But the quillions are way too big for
a knife that size. They’ll get hooked in
clothing and webgear, and the termi¬
nal balls will help keep the guard tan¬
gled. Guards are great things in a fight,
but just look at the utility knives of
primitive people and outdoorsmen.
Machetes, the Finnish puukko, the
Green River knife, my own hand-
forged utility blades and even
surgeons’ scalpels have no guard at all.
That’s because the guard interferes
with the variety of grips required for a
knife used as a precision tool. Deep,

scooped quillions are fine for a sword,
but you don’t chop brush or spread
C-rat peanut butter with a rapier. For a
combination utility/combat knife, the
guard should be compact so it doesn’t
foul in your gear and so it doesn’t get
between you and your work. The V-44
guard should’ve been made about half
as long as it was.

The clip is too shallow and this keeps
the point at least 3 /4-inch above the axis
of thrust. Jabbing this knife into tissue
would force a combatant to shove the
curve of the blade through the target,
instead of allowing a centered point to
cut a track for the rest of the blade to
follow.

The rest of the Carlson knife’s prob¬
lems are caused by its original form:
the Collins No. 18 machete. Available
at the time as the Model 1939 No. 18,
the U.S. government bought these
grass-slashers by the carload. Collins
made most of the machetes issued to
our troops in WWII, and the 22-inch-
blade No. 18 was one of the most
popular.

Now the Collins No. 18 is a fine
machete. But a machete depends on
metallic flexibility — not structure —
for strength. A fighting knife, on the
other hand, needs lateral strength and
rigidity that a cut-down cane-lopper

Continued on page 93

16 SOLDIER OF FORTUNE

OCTOBER 85

Combat Photographer

It's the next worst thing
to being there.

The Vietnam Veteran made it back home
from hell. Ask him what it was like over there
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obligation. Or keep
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$1495 ($17.95 in
Canada) plus
shipping and

Setting the Stage

Passing the Torch

TblKnui

America Takes Over

The Vlatiuun Experience

Combat Photographer

© 1985 Time-UIe Books Inc.,

Time & Life Bldg.. Chicago. IL 60611

handling. Future volumes, including America
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The Vietnam Experience

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When the U.S. Government went looking for a new
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Check out the 92 F and the
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send $2.00 to Beretta USA for a
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(301) 283-2191

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FLAMELESS FIREPOWER

All the firepower in the world
won’t pull you out of trouble if the
enemy can see your muzzle flash.
Everybody knows that and many
companies have put out flash
suppressors that are supposed to
take care of the problem. Most of
them work with various degrees of
success.

The Nil-Flash device delivers on
its promise to wipe out muzzle flash.
In fact, there is absolutely none.
Believe it or not, even at night, the
Nil-Flash obliterates the tell-tale
flame that roars out of the end of
your rifle.

A few bugs need to be worked
out, though. The prongs tend to
catch brush on the trail — not a
good idea if you need to get your
rifle into action quickly. And if the
Nil-Flash hits a solid object, it rings
out like an amplified tuning fork.

This model fits on the AR-15/M 16
and it can be had in either a blued
or Parkerized finish. If what you
want is zero muzzle flash, the
Nil-Flash is the way to go. Buy it for
$49.95 from D.C. Brennan
Firearms, Dept. SOF, 3628 Victoria
Ln., Cincinnati, OH 45208. Phone:
(513) 871-6724.

Gold in that brass

Anyone who shoots frequently
knows the value of reloading. But
who wants to run around bent over
looking for shells of one particular
caliber among the many different
casings lying about?

There’s a better way. Hook an
Apex brass catcher over the ejection
port of your AR- 15/M 16, HK or
Ruger Mini-14. It may look a bit
strange and it certainly isn’t the
ticket for combat but down on the
range it can’t be beat So if you
don’t mind people thinking your
lunch-bag’s stuck to your rifle, you
might want to try it out It sure beats
a bad back.

Contact: Glendale Distributors, Dept.
SOF, P.O. Box 7407, Glendale, CA
91205. Phone: (818) 240-3173. ^

ADVENTURE
QUARTERMA

A SHOT IN THE DARK

There’s been a proliferation of
laser-point gunsights recently. All of
them do the job pretty well so the
question of which is better can
become a dilemma.

Action Arms has entered the
laser-sight game with the Mark V
Electronic Sight. It’s the perfect
accessory for low-light shooting or
under conditions where fast target
acquisition is a must.

This newcomer operates in the
same way as the well-known
Aimpoint. Both use mercury
batteries, both have non-magnifying
optics and both are parallax-free so
that wherever the red dot points, the
bullet hits.

But there are some differences.
Action Arms’ Mark V is lighter —
only 5V2 oz. — and more compact.
And that’s an important
consideration when you’re lugging a
rifle through the bush. There is one
minor drawback, though.

The red dot on the Mark V is not
bright enough to be clearly seen on
extremely sunny days. Some type of
filter needs :o be provided with this
scope.

And if you have an UZI that
needs to become a fast-handling
carbine, you might try Action Arms’
new UZI scope mount. It will take all
one-inch scopes up to 3x9x40mm
— a perfect mate for the Mark V

laser sight Don’t worry about losing
the iron sight capability — this
mount allows either without
modification. The carbine mount
goes for $56.00 and the scope for
$183.50.

Contact: Action Arms, Ltd., Dept.
SOF, P.O. Box 9573, Philadelphia,
PA 19124. Phone: (215) 744-0100,

OCTOBER 85

SOLOIKH OF FORTUNE 19

with America’s only
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20 SOLMEK OF FORTUNE

OCTOBER 85

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The choice is always yours: Your only obligation is to
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them within 10 days at our expense to cancel your membership and owe
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(pleasft print)

Address_

_Apt. No._

Stale_

Members accepted in U.S.A. and Canada only. Canadian members
serviced from Canada where offer is slightly different. 67-M998

OCTOBER 85

SOIJHEH OF FORTUNE 21

FOR HARD-HITTING

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COMBAT
WEAPONCRAFT

by Jack Thompson

Effective Fire: Noise or Bodycount?

The application of effective fire is a
fire unit’s first responsibility. It makes
no difference if it be a fire team or a
company, giving effective fire is why
they’re there.

So, what is effective fire? Effective
fire is that which potentially produces
enemy casualties, and prevents him
from returning fire accurately. (For our
purposes, suppressive and effective
fire are synonymous.)

Now, there’s a fine line between
effective fire and noise. And being able
to tell the difference distinguishes be¬
tween combat veterans and green
troops. Effective fire produces kills,
and noise just produces noise. Experi¬
enced troops can recognize the differ¬
ence. Inexperienced troops think ev¬
erything is effective fire, because they
haven’t taken enough of it yet.

Effective fire is easy to tell. If the
enemy can’t shoot back and either
make your men casualties or prevent
them from returning fire, your fire is
effective.

The advantage of having effective
fire is what makes winners. Being on
the receiving end of effective fire —
and being unable to respond — makes
losers. And there’s no mistaking the
difference. If your head’s in the grass
and you can’t shoot or move, then the
enemy has effective fire and you don’t.

In Africa, our immediate action drill
was to shed our packs and assault into
the fire . . always. That was because
the terrs were not able to deliver effec-

Fire discipline can mean the
difference between winning and
losing an engagement. Photo: DOD

tive fire, and their bullets went high.
We would quickly establish fire superi¬
ority, and rarely ever lost a man.

But that’s not the case if two disci¬
plined units are slugging it out, toe-to-
toe, both delivering effective fire.
That’s a good firefight. And there’s
only one way to increase your chances
of survival. Establish fire superiority.

Fire superiority means you are de¬
livering a higher volume of effective
fire than your enemy. When two units
exchange effective fire at close range
all they can do is aim more accurately
and increase the rate of fire in order to
establish fire superiority. They can’t
just run from it

Movement on a battlefield will only
get you killed without covering fire.
That covering fire has to be good. You
can’t just shoot up the air and run, The
most common error made by troops
neutralized by effective fire is to spray
ineffective fire about the area. That
makes more noise, but diminishes
effective fire.

Remember. Your enemy can shoot
and move when he is not engaged by
effective fire. On the other hand,
shooting and moving under effective
fire is downright risky.

The difference is great and obvious
on the receiving end between effective
fire and noise. But how does any unit

22 SOMMFH OF FORTUNE

OCTOBER 85

organize its fire to make it effective,
instead of noise?

It’s simple. There are three main
components of effective fire. First, fire
control. Second, using the appropriate
rate of fire. Third, accurate shooting.

Fire control is the way the unit com¬
mander concentrates and distributes
effective fire on a selected target. That
means the unit commander chooses
targets, and judges how much fire is
required to suppress each target.

Rate of fire is the control of ammuni¬
tion expenditure with respect to dis¬
tance, ammunition availability and the
number of targets. Too many rates of
fire and commands are confusing. The
rates I use are: deliberate fire at five
rounds per minute, snap shooting at
two rounds for each exposure of the
enemy, rapid fire at 20 rounds a min¬
ute, and intense fire is fastest at 30
rounds a minute ... pause to aim ev¬
ery shot The common error in fixing a
rate of fire is applying too high a rate to
long-distance engagements. Aim must
be more precise at distance, and higher
rates of fire are inappropriate.

_ These two characteristics — fire con¬
trol and rates of fire — are given to the
troops in the form of a fire control
order. Fire control orders are the
means by which the unit commander
transmits direction of fire control and
rate of fire to his troops. Fire control
commands must be short, clear, and
every soldier must know what they are
... and obey them.

Fire control orders and their organi¬
zation of the unit’s effective fire is the
responsibility of the unit commander.
But the last and most important ele¬
ment of effective fire is entirely in the
hands of the individual soldier. His
leaders may instruct him in the princi¬
ples of accurate fire, but only the indi¬
vidual soldier can apply those princi¬
ples to deliver effective fire to the
target.

It is generally agreed that there are
four elements of accurate shooting:
steady position, correct aiming, breath
control and trigger control. The com¬
mander can’t do these things for the
soldier. He must perform these tasks
himself. And when he practices accu¬
rate shooting on the battlefield, it will
be without supervision. Common
errors are not aiming (especially at
night without night sights) and not
adopting a steady position. And unless
a soldier shoots accurately, his com¬
mander’s fire control orders can have
no effect.

Delivery of effective fire is the aim of
every fire unit. Unfortunately, it’s an
easy thing to forget when the lead hail
falls. But that’s when it’s most impor¬
tant, and why fire control needs to be
practiced constantly. ^

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OCTOBER 85

sounmt or fortune: 23

WHERE YOU HEADED
OWE? WEVE STILL
GOT 40 ROUNDS
TO FIRE. _

YOU FIRE EMUP.BUO.
ITS TIME FOR THE NEW
SOF TO BE DOWN AT

HACKS NEWSSTAND.

ILL BE RIGHT
OVER,

BUO! DO YOU HAVE THE NEW
SOF? MY RIFLE IS BEING RE¬
VIEWED IN IT... AND WE WERE
FOLLOWING THAT STORY
FROM EL SALVADOR AND
THEY WERE SUPPOSED TO
RUN SOMETHING ON OUR OLD
OUTFIT IN VIETNAM AND...

COOL OFF, MAN - I'VE GOT
IT RIGHT HERE. ITS ALL IN
THERE. YOU OUGHT TO
SUBSCRIBE UKE I DO.
SOF ARRIVES EVERY
MONTH UKE CLOCKWORK
...AND I SAVE A LOT OF
MONEY

24 SOM) I Ell 01 FORTUNE

OCTOBER 85

I WAS THERE

by C.C. Coffman

Bushmaster Backfire

In the wet, late spring of 1966, C. C.
Coffman Jr. and his platoon of Recon
Marines were airlifted far west of their
camp on the beach at Chu Lai to an SF
camp called Kam Due, a few klicks
inside the Vietnam border with Laos.
In a soggy valley surrounded by some
formidable, deeply forested and tan-
glegrown mountains, they had to per¬
form a series of ‘\Bushmaster’' ambush
patrols along Uncle Ho’s infiltration
routes. But what they encountered
wasn't the enemy.

^JrIEFINGS were short and to the
point; map reconnaissance, sketchy.
Then we were off. Two teams of six
men were lifted some 1,500 feet into
the mist through gigantic growth of
trees and bamboo and were inserted at
dusk to an old Japanese airstrip, Nok
Tavok. As the UH-34s clattered and
wheezed into the murk, we split the
two teams. Stumbling and sliding, we
made our separate ways into the soak¬
ing bush to hide until the next day’s
light could provide at least minimum
visibility.

After a drizzle-filled, chilly night,
huddled in absolute darkness, we
spent the day fighting mud, huge boul¬
ders covered with muck, leeches,
heavy briars, and dense fog. And for
the first time in my 56-month Vietnam
experience it grew very cold.

“Gunny, if the fuckin’ gooners really
want this place, they’re deservin’ of it,”
exclaimed my pointman, “Mouse”
Wrenn.

It was as bad a piece of terrain as I’d
seen in Korea, Malaya, Dom Rep, or
eastern Vietnam. And with the heavy
rucks, dangerous footing, and low visi¬
bility our progress was extremely slow.

Near exhaustion, we reached the
thin, twisting trails on the narrow ridge-
backs late evening on the second day.
You couldn’t see 10 feet in any direc¬
tion. There was a wall of misty rain and
deep shadows from the tremendous
trees and thick second growth.

The next day was spent laboriously
searching for a decent ambush site
along the obviously well-used tracks.
Charlie had been here and had used
the sinuous network for an extended

period.

Suddenly Wrenn alerted like a
Doberman. I gave a “no fire” signal
and we all faded left into thick, hon¬
eysuckle-like growth. The gooners
were talking, bitching, and making
enough noise to indicate a complete
lack of either concern or unit discipline.
But we never saw them despite the fact
that they had to have passed within
five meters of us.

My problem was three-fold: First, we
needed an extremely good ambush
site because there would obviously be
no back-up from aircraft, artillery, or
anything else in this God-forsaken
place; second, you couldn’t see well
enough to tell what the hell you were
jumping on or how many; and third,
getting out of here would be at least as
hard as getting in had been.

Firepower was no problem for us.
Among six well-trained, experienced
Force Recon Marines we had two 12-
gauge pumpguns, two auto M14s, two
M3A1 .45-caliber “Grease guns,” a
.45 pistol each and the usual assort¬
ment of grenades, plus a couple of
“rigger-rolled” claymores. But nearly
17 years in the Corps and five previous
Purple Hearts had taught me that fire¬
power wasn’t near as good as position,
surprise, and speedy execution.

On the morning of the fifth day the
weather had lightened up somewhat:
no rain but still that damned fog. That
morning I found my spot. It was located
along a straight, slightly downhill grade
with a steep drop-off on one side of the
relatively narrow trail. Just at the end of
the straight section, we found a well-
defined bend to the left with thin-
stalked bamboo on the uphill side for
good, close concealment. Behind us
would be a narrow cut in slime-covered
rocks for a fast, covered withdrawal.

Finally.

I set my team carefully, making sure
that each of us had exactly the right
interval, position, and field of fire
under and through the slender, leafy
bamboo. It averaged five meters from
each position to the trail and although
a standing man would be visible only
from about the waist down, it was
nearly perfect Nothing showed for the
rest of the day.

But just after dawn Corporal Dove
signaled that six were on the way into
our zone. Peering under and “through
the bamboo at the dimly visible trail, 1
saw several pairs of legs and triggered
the ambush by firing a claymore and
half a magazine from my M3A1.

Our fire was brief and intense but
what immediately followed was mind-
boggling ... there was a noise like
several tractor-trailer horns blaring,
bush being ripped to shreds, and the
earth trembled like an earthquake.

“Jesus Christ, Gunny, we’ve
ambushed three huge fuckin’
elephants .. . and God are they
pissed!” screamed my RTO, bounding
like crazy for the narrow cleft in the
rocks, followed by the rest of my team.
I wasn’t too far behind them.

It took us three days to get back to
Kam Due, dragging our asses all the
way. ^

INCOMING

Next month in SOF:

• MIKE HOARE, the world’s most
famous mere, has just been released from
prison. Join SOF as Mike re-tells the story
of his life and his causes with personal
photos never before seen in print. Don’t
miss this exclusive!

0 IRAN’S TAILSPIN — Middle-East
analyst Dave Segal explains the nuts and
bolts of why Iran can’t win its fight with
Iraq and the world. SOF’s exclusive
photos show convoys of ComBioc
trucks and missiles on the road from
Aqaba to Baghdad.

• ARGENTINE GUERRILLAS build
sophisticated ordnance from sub¬
machine guns to grenades. See the Mon-
toneros 7 deadly devices as an Argentine
officer tells you bow and where the guns
and bombs are made.

• N.Y.P.D. COMMANDOS stalk the
Big Apple s most dangerous criminals.
New York’s stakeout unit suits up when
the job’s too tough for anybody else.

0 MINIATURE MACHINE GUNS
aren’t for everyone. But if you’ve got a
couple of grand to dump on a full-auto
tabletop .22, SOF’s Mr Machinegun
will tell you where to buy it,

0 SO-VIET CONG might he a good
name for Russian advisers who lurked
the jungles of Vietnam with indig com¬
munist troops. Little known but the sub¬
ject of much speculation, their story is
found only in SOF.

• YOUR BEST BET to get your Soldier
of Fortune on time, without having to
beat your buddies to the PX, is a sub¬
scription. Subscribing to SOF puts your
favorite magazine in your hands before it
appears on newsstands, at a lower price.
Send the attached card today and join the
ranks of SOF

OCTOBER 85

SOLDIER OF FORTUNE 25

A Wcstview ftcfdicH Edilkm

MERCENARY TROOPS
[N MODERN AFRICA

Gerrv S. Thomas

MERCENARY TROOPS IN MOD¬
ERN AFRICA. By [Lt Col.] Geny S.
Thomas. Westview Press, Inc.,
Dept. SOF, 5500 Central Ave.,
Boulder, CO 80301.1984. 157 pp.
$15. Review by Wm. B. Guthrie.

^mENOPHON’S Anabas/s, Hoare’s
Mercenary , Mockler’s The Mercenar¬
ies and SOF ... If you’d read those
books you once could say you knew
more about contract soldiering than
most World Court lawyers. Now
there’s a new title to add to that list:
Thomas’ Mercenary Troops in
Modem Africa. It’s not as stylish as
Hoare, timeless as Xenophon, com¬
plete as Mockler or timely as SOF but
within its sphere, there’s nothing com¬
parable.

Most SOF readers will find Thomas’
book a little dry. Nevertheless, it puts
more clearly expressed information in
the hands of the reader in a more com¬
pact form than any other book on mer¬
cenarism. But Mercenary Troops in
Modem Africa was never intended as
a popular book, and shouldn’t be
judged by the standards of, say, Rolf
Steiner’s The Last Adventurer.

Although some SOF readers may
find Thomas’ work deficient in the
thrills-and-chills department, they’ll
find few defects in his bibliography.
Including works cited in endnotes,
there are materials from over 200 ref¬
erences in the slim softbound volume.
Thomas is a lieutenant colonel in the
Defense Intelligence Agency, and
obviously knows how to do research.
And he demonstrates just how good
his grasp of the subject is by including a
staggering amount of mercenaries’
first-person narration, most of which
would send a voting member of the
Qrganization for African Unity into

convulsions. (SOF figures prominently
in his index.)

Yet — for all the book’s strength in
semantics and documentation — there
are two real problems for the student of
private-sector soldiering. Thomas does
not consider foreign technicians as
mercenaries, and white ranch-security
personnel are typed as mercenaries.

We can understand, in a way, mak¬
ing such a mistake with hired private
security workers. After all, they spend
their lives scouring the underbrush
while carrying weapons. But Thomas
introduced his subject by claiming he
would write a functional definition of
mercenarism based on what merce¬
naries do, not why they do it. To gather
private security into the mercenary fold
multiplies the census of soldiers for hire
by opening the ranks to bank guards,
bounty hunters and rent-a-cops. Their
duties are no different, despite the
often-accidental inclusion of white
ranch guards in African COIN warfare.

But excluding radar and missile
technicians from consideration, only
because they don’t carry guns, is a bit
artificial. Cal Tech graduates who
maintain automatic, radar-aimed, anti¬
aircraft systems on the Saudi side of
the Persian Gulf might be surprised to
be labeled mercenaries, but consider¬
ing that they are foreigners participat¬
ing in hostilities (although they don’t
kill with their bare hands) for pay, it’s
odd that Thomas would exclude them
from his study. The argument might be
made that they don’t pull triggers, but
there’s little difference between their
work and that of a soldier laying land
mines. About the only thing separating
the radar technician from the ordnance
specialist is a plastic pocket protector.
To be fair, it is possible the author
knew that the inclusion of technicians
would complicate the study and cloud
what is an otherwise clear, intelligent,
realistic consideration of the conditions
of and reasons for mercenarism in
modem Africa.

Lt. Col. Thomas obviously isn’t a
mercenary, so some SOFers will pass
this book by in order to dive into Fire¬
power for the fifth time. That’s a
shame. Because if they’d read Thom¬
as’ book they might have learned
enough to know what’s wrong with
Firepower. Mercenary Troops in
Modem Africa is on the editorial re¬
quired-reading list at SOF.

mm

THE FRENCH FOREIGN LE¬
GION: The Inside Story of the
World Famous Fighting Force. By
John Robert Young. Thames and
Husdon, Dept. SOF, 500 Fifth,
New York, NY 10110. 1985. 212
pp. $16. Review by Blaine Taylor.

In 1964, noted author Geoffrey
Bocca wrote in La Legion!: “The For¬
eign Legion may exist for a few more
years yet, but it is a walking corpse.”
How wrong he was is faithfully and
scrupulously illustrated in this superb
new work on one of the globe's truly
elite units by John Robert Young, who
both wrote the text and shot the stun¬
ning photographs. This is definitely a
book for anyone who loves military
history, adventure, derring-do and ex¬
citement in far-off places.

Bocca wrote his premature obituary
for the Legion in the aftermath of the
abortive Legion anti-Gaullist coup of
April 1961 that attempted to keep
Algeria territorially within the French
political orbit. In the resultant Legion
vs. Legion civil war, DeGaulle won and
the Legion units involved were dis¬
graced and their officers put on public
trial. Coming on the heels of its defeat
at Dien Bien Phu in 1954, the events in
North Africa seemed, indeed, to num¬
ber the days of the Foreign Legion as it
moved its base — for the first time in
over a century — to mainland metro¬
politan France. All this is only lightly

Continued on page 100

26 SOLDIER OF FORTUNE

OCTOBER 85

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28 SOLDIER OF FORTUNE

OCTOBER 85

SOP WEAPONS

Singapore troops on patrol with the SAR
80, Photo courtesy of CIS

SIZING UP THE

SINGAPORE

Mars

S QUAD Automatic Weapons are hot.

Real hot. People no one ever heard of
before are loudly proclaiming their SAW to
be the best. They cite ‘‘tests” concocted in
corporate boardrooms. They donate a few
weapons to the SEALs or SAS, then hype
their entry’s use by “elite” units. Goading
them along are writers for the popular gun
press who delight in criticizing the choice of
the M249 (FN Minimi) as the SAW for the
U.S. military.

And exactly what characteristics do
“Squad Automatic Weapons” possess that
distinguish them from other types of
machine guns?

They invariably use the same ammuni¬
tion as the squad rifles. Outside the Iron
Curtain this means 5.56mm NATO. Most

OCTOBER 85

#1007

1

1

OUTFITTERS OF THE PROFESSIONALS

SOF EXCHANGE • P.O. Box 687, Boulder, CO 80306
Phone (303) 449-3750

/\

Official

SOLDIER

OF

FORTUNE

T-SHIRTS

S, M, L, XL

#1007

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#1013

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— Participant Southeast Asia Wargames — 2nd place.
Black. $7.95.

— Soldier of Fortune (logo). White or navy. $8.95

— C.A.T.T. — Central America Training Team. Navy.
$8.95

— SOF Helicopter. Olive Green S,M V L,XL $$8.95

— Marines — Let me win your hearts and minds or I’ll
bum your damn huts down. Gold. $8.95

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choice. Killing by profession. Black. $8.95

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— SOF/HK (features the MP5 SMG). Black. $8.95

— SOF Sport Shirt. 50/50 cotton/poly blend. With rib-knit
collar and sleeve cuffs. Navy, white or red. $14.95

— SOF 10th Anniversary Long-sleeve T-shirt. Backed
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SOLOIER OF
FORTUNE

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7

peace

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OCTOBER 85

feature quick-change barrels. All have
bipods. They can be either magazine- or
belt-fed, or both. They should weigh no
more than 2 l /z times as much as a rifle of the
same caliber — the less, the better.

Sound vaguely familiar? It should. We
used to call them light machine guns before
the general purpose machine gun (GPMG)
became an ordnance fetish. But the “gim-
py,” as the Brits call GPMGs, is fading
fast. It’s taken 40 long years to convince
most people that the GPMG concept is a
failure. Something for everything usually
means nothing for anything.

The Russians never abandoned the light
machine gun. Soviet units fight in Afghani¬
stan equipped with the RPK-74 SAW cham¬
bered for the 5.45x39mm ComBloc car¬
tridge. The belt-fed RPD and magazine-fed
RPK series are true squad-level machine
guns. Their greatest defect has always been
the lack of quick-change barrels.

The armed forces of the Free World are
confronted with an ever-increasing list of
alternatives. Squad Automatic Weapons in
the 5.56mm NATO cartridge are offered by
the Belgians, Germans, Italians, British,
Austrians and Spanish.

Even Singapore is getting into the act
with its version of the SAW. While owned
by the government’s Ministry of Defense,
Chartered Industries of Singapore (CIS) is
operated as a private, profit-oriented enter¬
prise. Design of their SAW — modestly
called the Ultimax 100 (Ultimate/Max¬
imum) — began in 1978, in response to
requirements proposed by the Singapore
Armed Forces.

James Sullivan — who worked on the
development of both the Armalite AR-15
and AR-18 assault rifles — was a principal
member of the design team. Some of Sulli¬
van’s basic design concepts were innova¬
tive, almost brilliant. But the Ultimax 100 is
flawed by inexperienced user input.

Originally part of Great Britain’s colony
in Malaya, Singapore became a separate
and independent state in 1965. The defense
forces of this island trading post traditional¬
ly were manned mosdy by citizens from
other countries. Since independence, the
Armed Forces of Singapore have never
faced the test of all-out war. The Ultimax
100 clearly exhibits the importance of battle
experience in shaping the proper forms and
characteristics of the infantry’s killing
tools.

I flew to Singapore to test the mettle of
the CIS line-up of infantry small arms. Here
are the results.

Ultimax 100 SAW

The Ultimax 100 is gas-operated with a
rotary bolt. It fires from the open bolt posi¬
tion. An adjustable gas regulator operates
the short-stroke, tappet-type piston. The
barrel’s gas vent is only nine inches from the
chamber face — at a high point on the
gas-pressure curve. This was supposed to
produce a “self-cleaning’' gas system.

Rubbish.

Vietnam is the last place we saw a weapons
system billed as being maintenance-free. Plen¬

ty of good men died because of Colt’s early
bullshit about the M16. All firearms have to be
cleaned and maintained, no matter where the
gas port is located.

At the heart of Sullivan’s system is his
unique “constant-recoil” concept. The bolt
carrier never strikes the receiver’s rear wall
if the gas regulator is adjusted properly. Its
long rearward travel is a function of an
extremely long recoil spring and guide rod
coupled with an unusual bolt-carrier body
which extends above and considerably for¬
ward of the bolt itself. Incorporated in the
bolt-carrier extension is an inertia block to
reduce bolt bounce and the danger of igni¬
tion out of battery. The carrier extension
rides over the barrel and is protected from
overheating by a stainless-steel reflector
shield in the upper receiver body.

Thus the bolt group more or less floats
inside the receiver, never impacting against
the receiver’s rear wall. But, I reiterate, this
is provided that the gas regulator has been

Ultimax 100: adjustable six-position gas
regulator and front-sight assembly.

SAR 80 front-sight assembly and adjustable
gas regulator. Note the front sling swivel
mounted directly to barrel.

properly adjusted. Felt recoil is reduced dra¬
matically, As a consequence the designers
were able to place the entire system in a
package weighing only 10.3 pounds empty
with bipod attached. In comparison, the
Galil ARM weighs 9.6 pounds.

A slot in the bolt carrier runs over a guide
rail on the left interior wall of the receiver.
The receiver is fabricated from two sheet-
metal pressings, bent and welded together
into a rectangular shape. A sliding sheet-
metal plate serves as the receiver’s rear
wall. The guide rod’s rear end is retained by
a nub on the back plate. A flat sheet-metal
rib has been welded to the top of the receiver
body for better alignment. The front sling
swivel is a steel rod bent into a U-shape and
welded to the receiver. It does not move, but
the sling can be attached to either the right or
left side of the receiver. The finish is matte-
black enamel over phosphate.

The nylon-base plastic buttstock has a
bottom hook for the support hand when
fired from the prone position with the bipod.
It has a rubber recoil pad. The buttstock is
hollow, without foam filling. It should be
provided with a storage compartment.
There are sling swivels on both the right and
left side. Well-placed toward the top of the
butt, they rotate 360 degrees. The buttstock
is attached to the receiver by two short steel
rods which run in channels on either side of
the receiver in the manner of the U.S. M3
submachine-gun series.

To remove the buttstock, press the two
stock latch buttons inward against the re¬
ceiver walls and pull the buttstock away

OCTOBER 85

SOLMI'll OF FORTUNE 31

from the receiver at the same time. The
weapon can be fired without the buttstock.

With the buttstock off and the bolt group
forward, the disassembly button can then be
pushed forward to disengage the receiver’s
backplate from the recoil-spring guide rod.
Slide the backplate down and withdraw the
entire bolt group out the rear of the receiver.
Disassembly procedure for the recoil
spring, guide rod, firing pin, cam pin and
bolt is self-evident. It takes about 20
seconds to field-strip the Ultima* 100 and
twice that for reassembly. There are only 90
components. But in my opinion too many of
them are pins and screws (24) and springs
(24).

The rotary eight-lug bolt uses the extrac¬
tor as one of its lugs and the extractor spring
has a rubber insert. A conventional bump-
type ejector and spring are located in the
bolt face. The firing pin is spring-loaded.
It’s retained by a cross-pin and is easily
removed. The firing-pin spring is not re¬
movable by the operator. The bolt is rotated
by means of a cam pin which moves in a
cam path cut in the bolt carrier.

A steel barrel extension containing re¬
cesses for the bolt’s and barrel’s locking
lugs is fitted to the receiver, somewhat in
the manner of the Steyr AUG. The barrel’s
lugs are machined around the chamber area.
The Mark II Ultimax 100’s barrel can be
changed in a few moments by depressing
the barrel locking button, twisting the barrel
assembly counterclockwise and sliding it
forward.

However, changing the barrel is difficult
when the gun is overheated. Unfortunately,
that is almost always the reason one would
want to change the barrel in the first place.
The AUG-type barrel locking button be¬
comes so hot you can’t touch it with the bare
hand.

I have been told that this Ultimax 100 com¬
ponent is being redesigned. Its barrel can be
removed or installed with the bolt either for¬
ward or retracted. Re-installation of a new
barrel takes longer than removal. It’s difficult
to index the barrel lugs with the barrel exten¬
sion recesses under stress. An indexing nub at
the chamber end of the barrel actually hinders
re-installation, in my opinion. The Mkl pro¬
totype has a fixed barrel and non-adjustable
gas regulator. The Mkll Ultimax 100 has an
adjustable regulator.

Three barrel lengths are now available:
14, 18 and 20 inches. Overall weapon length
with a 20-inch barrel is 40.5 inches. Larger
ports are on the gas regulator for the 14-inch
barrel. Chrome lining for the barrels is not
standard. The six-groove barrels have a
right-hand twist with one turn in 12 inches to
accommodate M 193-type ammunition. Bar¬
rels with l:7-inch twist are also offered. An
M16 bird-cage-type flash suppressor with
the 6th (bottom) port blocked is provided,
held securely to the barrel by a jam nut. A
spring clip accommodates grenade launch¬
ers. The carrying handle is attached to the
barrel and can be used to assist barrel
changes. A new, simplified handle is fixed
and no longer rotates to the right.

Ultimax 100 SAW Specifications

Caliber .....1.,

.5.56mm NATO

Operation . . * . H +

for grenade launching. Short-stroke piston. Rotary bolt.
Fires from the open-bolt position. Unique “constant-
recoil” system.

Cyclic rate ......

.,520 rpm

Feed mechanism

100-rd. reloadable drum. M 16-type magazines can be
adapted.

Weight, empty, w/bipod

and buttstock *

. 10.3 lbs.

Overall length

40.6 inches with 20-inch barrel.

Barrel

..Air-cooled, quick-change type. Button broached. Six

grooves with a right-hand twist of one mm in 12 inches.
Not chrome-lined.

Barrel length * . -

20 inches. 14-inch and 18-inch lengths available on special
order.

• Sights... .

.... . .Round, post-type front with protective ears; adjustable for
elevation zero. Sliding tangent, ramp-type rear with peep
aperture; adjustable for windage and elevation from 100 to

■ s - i. "V

600 meters. Sight radius of 18.6 inches.

Accessories .

case and pouches for weapon and drums, cleaning tools
and bayonet.

Status

.In production. In service with the Singapore Armed Forces.

Manufacturer ...

...... Chartered Industries of Singapore Pte., Ltd., 249, Jalan

Boon Lay, Singapore 2261

Ultimax 100: adjustable bipod leg.

Ultimax 100: rear-sight assembly.

32 SOLDIER OF FORTUNE

OCTOBER 85

IS

Company field test of the Ultimax 100.
Photo courtesy of CIS

At the request of the Singapore Armed
Forces, a bayonet lug was attached to the
barrel, a macabre (and useless) reminder of
their most recent contact with opposing mil¬
itary forces. The Japanese charged up the
hills of Malaya screaming “Banzai” 40
years ago with 20-inch bayonets fixed to
their Type 99 light machine guns. Bayonet
lugs on such weapons were then — and are
now — a classic case of tits on a bull.

Also mounted to the barrel is the gas
regulator. Six positions — 0 to 5 — are on
the regulator knob. Rifle grenades are
launched with the knob set in the 0 position.
This seals off return gas completely. The 5
setting permits the greatest amount of gas to
enter the system and should be employed
only under adverse conditions. Always ad¬
just the gas regulator knob so that the bolt
carrier will not impact against the rear re¬
ceiver wall. Holes in the side of the regula¬
tor knob permit adjustment with a tool, but
the tool was not provided to the author.

During firing sequence#, the regulator
gets quite hot and cannot be rotated with the
bare hand. The regulator knob on one barrel
fouled halfway through my 2,000-round
test. It froze after cooling and could not be
rotated for adjustment. The gas regulator
and piston are chrome plated.

To disassemble the gas system, first ro¬
tate the regulator knob until its slot is
aligned with the stud on the regulator
spring. Pull the knob off the regulator. De¬
press the regulator and pull the gas-block
cross-pin to the left. Withdraw the regula¬

Ultimax 100: left side view. Note that
cocking handle knob must be rotated
forward before it can be retracted. The
magazine latch spring has been mounted
outside the receiver.

Ultimax 100 drum-loading tools.

tor, piston, spring and piston plug. Reas¬
semble in the reverse order. Make certain
the piston plug’s cut groove is facing up¬
ward so the cross-pin can be re-installed.

The bipod is located under the barrel, just
to the rear of the gas block. It has been
designed to provide both lateral and rota¬
tional movement of 30 degrees. Five lock¬
ing positions offer bipod leg adjustments; a
command height from 6.1 to 8.5 inches.
Pull down on the legs to fold them under the
barrel. The gun can be fired without the
bipod by depressing the barrel latch button,
removing the barrel, then rotating the bipod
assembly 45 degrees in either direction and
withdrawing it outward.

Also part of the barrel assembly is the

OCTOBER 85

SOI.IIIEII OF FORTUNE 33

front sight. Its protective ears are integral
with the gas-block/carrying-handle group,
which is sweated and pinned to the barrel.
The round front-sight post is adjustable for
elevation zero in the M16 manner. To alter
the windage zero, a spring-loaded screw on
the gas block must be depressed from the
left side. Rotating its head on the right side
will move the entire front-sight housing.

The sight radius is 18.6 inches and the
rear sight is mounted to the receiver. The
sliding tangent-type ramp has a peep aper¬
ture. Elevation adjustments are from 100 to
600 meters. There is no battle sight posi¬
tion. Windage corrections are accomplished
by pulling out a spring-loaded flat knob on
the right side of sight and rotating. The rear
sight’s protective ears need to be enlarged.
They do not protect the peep aperture when
it’s adjusted for maximum elevation. As
yet, there is no provision for optical sights.

The receiver is cut away on the right and
left sides to expose the barrel for more effi¬
cient air cooling. Be careful. Keep your
support hand on the nylon-base plastic ver¬
tical foregrip bolted under the receiver.
Both insulation cloth and an aluminum heat
shield protect it from overheating. Its fin¬
ger-grooved pistol grip is a bit too small for
non-Asian hands and it is currently being
redesigned. But the grip’s shape is very
comfortable and a valuable support when
firing from the hip assault, sitting, kneeling
or standing positions.

Cut into the right side of the receiver body is
the ejection port. An 11-component dust cov¬
er/case deflector has been bolted over the port
... Far too many bits and pieces here.

A slot for the non-reciprocating retracting
handle is cut into the receiver’s left side.
The cocking handle must first be rotated
counterclockwise (rolled forward) before
it’s pulled to the rear. Peculiar and totally
uncalled for. After the bolt has been re¬
tracted the retracting handle should be
pushed forward to its locked position.

The trigger housing assembly cannot be
removed from the receiver by the operator
— a very serious design flaw. Using punch¬
es and hex wrenches, an armorer must first
disassemble the stock latch, magazine
latch, sear buffer assembly, trigger pivot
pin and trigger group detent pin before the
trigger mechanism can be removed.

While we don’t necessarily want the gun¬
ner to be able to detail-strip the trigger hous¬
ing group, he must be able to remove it from
the receiver to inspect and clean it properly.
There is no way the Ultimax 100 trigger
mechanism can be cleaned or examined
properly in the field.

Based on this problem alone, I would not
carry this weapon into combat.

However, the trigger group’s pistol grip
is well-designed and angled correctly. It
could benefit from a finger swell and a stor¬
age trap for cleaning equipment and small
spare parts. The trigger itself is wide and
smooth and offers an excellent purchase for
the operator’s finger. The trigger guard can¬
not be swung down or removed for arctic
environments.

Located just above the pistol grip on the
left side is the fire selector. It’s large and
easily manipulated. There are only two
positions, safe (“S”) and fire (“F”). Selec¬
tor markings should appear on the right side
of the receiver also. Rotate the lever down
to move into the fire mode. No need for a
semiautomatic function since the cyclic rate
of this machine gun is only 520 rpm. Ex¬
perienced gunners can always tap off single
rounds whenever the need arises.

Firing from the open-bolt position, the
bolt group is held back behind the feed area
and the bolt carrier is engaged by the trigger
mechanism’s sear. The front end of the sear
contacts the sear actuator on the fire selec¬
tor. Pulling the trigger releases the bolt
group by means of the sear actuator and
strips the top cartridge out of the magazine.
If the trigger is released, the sear once more
will engage the bolt carrier. There is no
hold-open and the bolt group remains for¬
ward after the last round has been fired. The
sear incorporates a buffer system and this
unique lock-out mechanism prevents
accidental firing if the weapon is improperly
cocked or dropped.

Controversy already has arisen over the
Ultimax 100’s feed system. I have never
cared much for drums. Complex, expensive
and usually fragile, they have largely been
replaced by box magazines which success¬
fully address these criticisms. The only
more or less reliable drum magazine I have
ever used is the 75-round RPK drum.
Although heavy and robust, even it can
prove to be cantankerous.

The original CIS concept was to pre¬
package ammunition in 60- or 100-round
disposable drums. This proved impossible
to sell to anyone. Repeated use of the early
drums resulted in a problem of slow follow¬
er rise during environmental testing. The
60-round drum was discarded and the 100-
round drum was completely redesigned.
The new drum has a slightly larger diameter
with only three tracks instead of four. The
feed lip and loading gate are now of metal
construction. The rear plate remains trans-

The SAR 80 flip-type, peep-aperture rear
sight, taken directly from the M16.

SAR 80 assault rifle.

Right side of SAR 80. Note the
generous-sized magazine catch release
button and peculiar sliding dust cover that
does not protect the ejection port.

Selector mechanism on the SAR 80 rifle,
which has been taken from the M16.

34 SOLDIER OF FORTUNE

OCTOBER 85

SAR 80 rifle disassembled.

SAR 80 Assault Rifle Specifications

Caliber . «... ... 5,56mm NATO

Operation .*>*.**....* Gas, Four-position adjustable regulator with cut-off position
for grenade launching. Short-stroke piston based on
Amialite AR-18 system. Fires from the closed-bolt posi¬
tion.

Cyclic rate * ♦, M > - • *•«.. 700-750 rpm

Feed mechanism * r . •. * Staggered box M16 type; 20 or 30-rd. capacity.

Weight, empty * v*♦*•*. 7.5 lbs.

Overall length i y *. * ♦ ♦* 38.2 inches

Barrel .♦=, * * Six grooves with a right-hand twist of one turn in 12 inches.

Button broached. Not chrome-lined. M16Al-type flash
suppressor.

Barrel length .18.1 inches

Sights* ♦ *.....Round front-sight post of the Ml 6 type with protective ears;

adjustable for elevation zero only. Flip peep-aperture rear
of the M16 type with protective ears; adjustable for win¬
dage by rotating drum on right side. Sight radius of 20.4
inches.

Accessories *.*•;*.*.*;•♦ M16-type bipod, blank firing attachment, sling, cleaning kit
and bayonet, ;p\

Status *.In production. In service with the Singapore Armed Forces.

Manufacturer* .Chartered Industries of Singapore Pte., Ltd., 249, Jalan
Boon Lay, Singapore 2261.

parent plastic so the operator can readily
check the rounds remaining. Even the plas¬
tic dust cover has been reconfigured from
smooth to ribbed. That’s good. You haven’t
lived until you’ve almost died trying to re¬
move the dust cover on an M3A1 “grease
gun” magazine in a stress environment.

CIS seems to have licked not only their
early problems, but my generic objections
to drum magazines. The two magazines I
used in the SOF 2,000-round test and evalu¬
ation produced no stoppages. They had
been in service with the CIS demo team for
three months and had been reloaded at least
10 times prior to my use. Ml 6-type maga¬
zines can also be employed, but two holes
must first be drilled into their left wall to
engage the magazine catches.

The magazine release button is posi¬
tioned on the right side of the receiver.
Large and grooved, it’s convenient to locate
and use. The magazine latch spring, a long
steel bar, is mounted externally to the left
side of the receiver. This has been criticized
for its potential to snag jungle brush. But I
doubt it is any more prone to do so than
other parts protruding from the weapon.

There are three ways to reload the Ulti-
max 100 drum. Loading by hand is not
difficult, but it is somewhat slow. The other
two loading methods involve tools de¬
veloped for this purpose. A portable unit
that disassembles for greater compactness
in the field accepts M 16-type, 10-round
stripper clips. A more elaborate device
stands on four legs with a hopper to sort
loose rounds. Both are equipped with a
large, spring-loaded plunger handle. Both
work efficiently. The usual assortment of
other accessories, such as a sling, canvas
carrying bag and a BFA (blank-firing
attachment) are available.

Firing the Ultimax 100 is an interesting
experience. There were no stoppages of any
kind throughout the 2,000-round test se¬
quence. Two barrels were used. They were
changed every 400 rounds. I fired the
weapon at a rate of approximately 100
rounds per minute. The CIS demo team
often fires the Ultimax 100 in a continuous
100-round burst. Dramatic and impressive,
but without application to the battlefield.

The weapon was cooled every 800 rounds
until the barrels could be held in the bare
hand. With the gas regulator adjusted prop¬
erly, felt recoil is no more than a light tap on
the shoulder. As a consequence, hit prob¬
ability and accuracy potential are very high
— amazing in a machine gun weighing little
more than 10 pounds. And a loaded 100-
round drum adds only another 3.4 pounds.
CIS requirements for mean dispersion at
100 meters are a sum of the horizontal and
vertical spread no greater than 11 inches
(10-shot group).

Continued on page 88

The SAR 80 bolt group was adapted from
the system employed by the Armalite AR-18
assault rifle.

OCTOBER 85

SOIJHF.lt OF FOItTIJNE 35

SOI 7 VIETNAM

BARGING
IN ON
CHARLIE

Uncle Sam’s Brownwater Navy

by Robert Andrews

M ARINES may have grabbed most of
the headlines in South Vietnam’s I
Corps, but they weren’t the only ones fight¬
ing and dying there. In fact, we thought the
Marines had it easy. When the rockets and
mortar rounds rained down, they could
jump into foxholes and bunkers.

We poor souls manning the deck of a
Navy river boat could rule out running for
cover. We just sat tight and hoped like hell
that Charlie would miss.

There were a few advantages to river boat
duty, though. The YFU-82 (Harbor Utility
Craft) was constructed with the shallow riv¬
ers of Vietnam in mind. It was the largest
river boat to navigate the muddy waters of I
Corps. And like most large boats. Harbor
Utility Craft had more room for the com¬
forts of home. The six-man crew had hot
and cold running water, a stove and re¬
frigerator, and air conditioning that worked
about half the time.

But each crewman had an M16 and a .45
pistol and the hardware wasn’t for show.
Wc were the ducks in Charlie’s shooting
gallery. The VC celebrated most of our runs
with fireworks so we had to be ready to
party.

Dodging bullets was distracting, but cargo
was our big problem. You name it and we
delivered it. The forward welldeck was large
enough to transport a tank, a jeep and 100
Marines with room to spare. That was a good
load for us, of course. Charlie thought twice
before pissing off that much firepower.

Usually we didn’t have that much hard¬
ware and manpower. Our average load con¬

After a day of engine repair in Da Nang*
the author looks for a place to clean up*

RIVER RAT JOCKEY

Robert Andrews saw the Vietnam
War from a different angle than most
vets. Instead of paddies and jungles, he
saw the waterways that were often the
lifeline for troops operating in the rug¬
ged terrain of I Corps,

Andrews served in the U S. Navy for
three-and-a-half years as an E-4 engine-
man and completed eight-and-a-half
months of his Vietnam tour of duty on a
river boat before he was sent home with a
broken back, the result of a boat explo¬
sion.

He currently works with Marshall
County Police Department in Plymouth,
Indiana, where he holds the rank of line
sergeant,

Andrews has had four articles pub¬
lished in SOF’s I Was There c olunrn.

sisted of pallets of black powder and artil¬
lery projectiles. One well-placed shot
would have vaporized us.

My first river run was the same day I
reported in-country — 1 May 1970. We
pulled away from the Lighterage Causeway
in Da Nang and headed out to sea. Three
miles off the coast we caught up with a
freighter loaded with black powder. We tied
up alongside and they lowered a forklift into
our welldeck. The forklift driver would no
sooner get one pallet stacked when they
dropped another in behind him. When he
was finished the pallets were stacked two
high, with about four feet of the load stick¬
ing above the sides of the welldeck. I
thought it was stupid to advertise our cargo
that way, but I was the New Guy. I kept my
mouth shut. We remained three miles off
the coast and traveled eighty miles north to
Cua Viet. The craftmaster stopped just long
enough to pick up two bags of mail and an
Army sergeant. As we pulled off the Cua
Viet ramp the sergeant told us that there had
been a mining incident a few days before.

The craftmaster sounded the red alert
horn and put us at battle stations for the
eight-mile river run to Dong Ha. I was
placed on the portside .50-cal. machine
gun. I almost forgot where I was.

A cool breeze fanned over me and I eased
back and enjoyed the scenery. Two miles up
the river from Cua Viet the crack of a rifle
shot sent me spinning back to reality. I
whipped the barrel of the .50 to the bow and
was ready to return fire, but the craftmaster
grabbed me by the arm and pointed to the

36 SOLIMKU 01- rOKTIJM 7

OCTOBER 85

Army sergeant standing on top of the well-
deck wall. An M14 bucked at his shoulder
as little geysers of water erupted just ahead
of the boat.

The craftmaster saw my obvious confu¬
sion and as the boat slowed, he explained to
me that the sergeant had seen a paint brush
bobbing in the river. That made no sense at
all to me until he explained that the Cong
often attached some common object to their
mines. The paint brush might be a mine
flotation device. Since they didn’t always
use the same thing twice, a sharpshooter had
to fire on anything that floated.

After emptying a magazine and failing to
blow up the paint brush the craftmaster
pulled the boat ahead slowly. As the boat
neared the paint brush the Army sergeant
motioned the craftmaster to continue. When
the bow came even with the paint brush the
sergeant waved his arm to the left and the
craftmaster responded by steering the boat
to port. The paint brush had been floating in
one foot of water over a sand bar. The run
continued.

When we arrived at Dong Ha and
dropped our ramp, four Vietnamese women
with forklifts unloaded the boat. The

women handled the forklifts like turnpike
truckers. Each move was well-planned and
they treated the pallets of black powder like
eggs going to market. Once the craft was
empty, we got underway for seaside. The
run back downriver was uneventful.

Mostly uneventful, that is. Rounding a
bend in the river, we came upon two Viet¬
namese fishermen in a sampan. When the
craftmaster blasted two notes on the boat’s
whistle warning them to get out of our way,
they stopped in the middle of the river and
just looked at us. The craftmaster thought
they might be planting a mine so maybe a
little machine-gun chatter would light a fire
under them. I was ordered to open up.

Now the Marines at Camp Pendleton had
showed me how to fire a .50, but I never
said I was any good at it — I sunk the boat.
As we fished the two men out of the river, it
was obvious that they weren’t very happy
with us. Maybe a few smiles and two car¬
tons of Salem cigarettes would make them
happier. The cigarettes went over pretty
good, but the smiles were a waste of time.

Some wise-ass on my boat drew a picture
of the boat I’d sunk and put a big X on it— I
found it taped to my wall locker. The craft¬
master told me that I only had to sink six
more to rank as an ace.

When we reached Da Nang there wasn’t
time to resupply before we had travel orders
again, this time for Dong Ha. The load we
picked up sure made the crew happy. It was
a mixed load of small-arms ammo, and
several pallets of beer. While en route to
Cua Viet the crew got busy and opened the
pallets. The cases of beer were to be used as
trading stock, and the ammo was put in our
ammo locker. I was told that most of the
time our requests for ammo, engine parts,
and food were turned down. So every time
we got the chance to pick up a little extra
trading stock, we did it. When the boat
requested four cans of .50 ammo we’d get
one. The craftmaster hated down time, so
when we needed engine parts to keep us
going it meant a midnight raid on Navy
warehouses or stripping another boat on the
causeway. Food wasn’t a big problem.
What we didn’t get from the Navy we
picked up from the Australian freighters in
the bay. They got the stolen beer and we got
the choice cut steaks that were going to the
officers’ club at Da Nang.

Pulling into Cua Viet was a rerun of our
last trip. Two bags of mail for Dong Ha and
one passenger, this time an Army lieuten¬
ant. He had only been in-country for a week
and was going to Dong Ha for his first
assignment. I thought I was new—this guy
still had an umbilical cord attached.

On this run, my imagination got the best
of me. I saw snipers in the com fields, along
the river bank and in the water. It was as if I
had been dipped in ice water. I think they
call it fear.

But some might call it premonition. On
the south side of the river, about one hun¬
dred yards in the middle of an open field.

Continued on page 91

NEITHER RAIN,
NOR SLEET,
NOR ENEMY FIRE..

Elements of the Third Marine Am¬
phibious Force stormed onto Red Beach,
Da Nang, in March 1965 to protect the
vital Da Nang air base from the Viet
Cong. With the Marines firmly estab¬
lished in I Corps Tactical Zone (the five
northernmost provinces in South Viet¬
nam), it was not long before the Navy got
into the act and assumed its historical role
of supporting the Marines in combat,

Shortly after the Marines were in¬
serted, it became clear that an advance
supply base would have to be con¬
structed In I Corps and headquartered in
Da Nang, Vietnam’s second largest city.
For the first time since World War II,
there was a requirement for the U S.
Navy to move ashore from ships and
establish a major logistic support base at
a remote location. And it had to be done
without months of prior planning.

The Operations Department was
formed on 15 October 1965 concurrent
with the establishment of the U .S. Naval
Support Activity, Da Nang. From a
modest beginning with only 60 small
craft and a handful of men, the depart¬
ment grew to over 3,500 USN personnel
and operated or controlled more than
350 ships and craft.

Home base: Lighterage Causeway, Da
Nang.

The Operations Department trans¬
ported cargo in lighterage craft from Da
Nang to offload sites at shallow draft
ports, beaches and ramps along the coast
and up the rivers of I Corps. These de¬
ployments were unique because craft not
designed for lengthy operations com¬
pleted thousands of day-and-night coas¬
tal transits, often under extremely hazar¬
dous monsoon conditions. Mother Na¬
ture’s obstacles were enough to make
li fe difficult for the sailors , but there was
even more. Mines and the threat of
swimmer-sappers, rocket, mortar and
small-arms attacks livened things up
some.

River craft making the supply runs
were YFUs (harbor utility craft), LCUs
(utility landing craft) and LCM-8s and
LCM-6s, some of which even saw action
during the granddaddy of all beach
assaults — the D-Day invasion.

In its short four-and-a-half-ycar his¬
tory, the Lighterage Division alone suf¬
fered more than six percent of all Navy
personnel killed in Vietnam, The men
were not forgotten, though — seven Sil¬
ver Stars were awarded to men of this
division. Thirty-seven lighterage craft
proudly display the Presidential Unit
Citation for operations during the 1968
Tet offensive

OCTOBER 85

SOMMER OE FORTUNE 37

SOF AFGHANISTAN

DAYLIGHT

RAID

R ISKS are one thing. People who volun¬
tarily go into a war zone confront in
their own minds that certain risks are under¬
stood. Just being there is a physical risk.
And as every war veteran who has ever lost
a buddy in combat knows, making close
friends in a war zone is an emotional risk.

But foolish risks are something else
again. Deep in Kabul Province — the area
of Afghanistan most firmly under the jack-
boot of Soviet invaders — I have a nervous
suspicion that my hosts are embarking on a
questionable mission.

My Afghan translator, Haliq, seeks in his
own way to ease my worry. He jams a full
magazine into his Chinese Type 56-1
assault rifle as he explains why our mujahid
group will risk a daytime attack on a fort
over open ground.

“We have information that the govern¬
ment army post will surrender soon after we
attack it. The morale of Afghan soldiers is
very low. They are tired of being forced by
the Soviets to fight their'Afghan brothers,”
he says.

The freedom fighters with whom I am
traveling are part of about 200 mujahideen
under Commander Abdul Mohammed, who
is himself a former member of the Afghan
Army. His irregular force is part of Jamiat-i-
Islami, one of six major resistance organiza¬
tions frustrating the Soviet occupation
army. Abdul Mohammed is intelligent,
low-key and well-respected by his men. Af¬
ter Afghanistan’s communist coup in 1978,
he persuaded much of his division to desert
and join in the fight against Afghanistan’s
puppet regime.

Aided by the Soviet invaders, Afghan
government troops repaid Mohammed by
storming into his family home and shooting
his mother and sister as they sat down to
lunch. Seven years have passed. Despite the
tremendous struggle, bloody bitterness and
death that have crossed his path since then,
Abdul Mohammed remains undaunted in
his march to free a country that has been his
homeland for untold centuries.

I had joined him and a 20-man platoon in
Pakistan six weeks earlier. Our long,
arduous march through Khyber Pass and
over the mountainous border has brought us
to our base camp, one of a series of caves
overlooking a mountain valley in Kabul
Province. The caves were dug out of the low

Freedom

Fighters

Batter

Kabul

Fort

Text and photos
by Philip Edwards

FREELANCE

ADVENTURER

This article covers the last days of
Philip Edwards’ recent six-week foray
into Afghanistan, his first time in that
country. Although he has no military
background, Edwards obviously has a
yen for adventure. As this issue went to
press, he was planning his second trip
into the war-tom nation. Edwards, 26,
received a college degree in zoology and
has worked as a professional ornitholo¬
gist. “But I’ve always been interested in
Central Asia, particularly Afghanistan.
I’ve always wanted to go there, especial¬
ly since the war started and they’ve re¬
ceived very little help.” How did he
develop such a craving for action and
adventure? “My Mom blames it on the
National Geographies she left in the
bathroom when I was growing up.”
Thanks, Mrs. E. And welcome aboard,
Philip, for your first appearance in Sol¬
dier of Fortune .

yellow cliffs by the British in the 19th cen¬
tury for protection from Afghan warriors.
The Crown made one of history’s many
futile attempts to invade and rule Afghani¬
stan. Today the caves are used by the Holy
Warriors in their desperate fight for inde¬
pendence from Soviet military rule.

The army post targeted for attack is just a
two-hour march downstream from our posi¬
tion. Using binoculars we can see the garri¬
son’s white sentry post from the mouth of
our cave. We are less than 10 miles from the
capital city of Kabul, where the Soviet
military presence in Afghanistan is
heaviest.

My interpreter, Haliq, and a dozen others
outside the cave finish cleaning and loading
their automatic rifles and begin packing
heavy weapons. Everything is set by noon.
A Chinese Type 53 82mm mortar, a Russian
73mm SPG-9 recoilless gun and rounds for
both are strapped to two horses and a mule.

After completing all their other prepara¬
tions to leave, Usman and Masoud, two of
Abdul Mohammed’s fighters, prepare an
Islamic rite of blessing, this one for holy
warriors about to do battle. They hold be¬
tween them parchment containing verses
from the Koran, the Moslem world’s most
sacred text, wrapped in white cloth. The last
thing each of the mujahideen do before leav¬
ing is to kiss the cloth and step beneath it.

I curiously watch Usman assist in this
rite. On the trip from Pakistan, 1 have spent
much time with him. He has tried to teach
me bits and pieces of his language, and I
have reciprocated. In this awkward fashion
we have grown close to each other, develop¬
ing an unspoken kinship. Despite the
sombemess of the occasion, Usman and the
others smile at me as I photograph the ritual.

As we move out, Nur, a former Soviet
tank crewman, takes the point with a
Chinese 40mm grenade launcher slung over
his shoulder. The column winds single-file
down the gravely slope to the stream we will
follow to the post. Nur was captured two
years ago by Abdul Mohammed after his
tank was ambushed and destroyed by
Mohammed’s men. Nur pleaded with his
captors for his life, saying he also was a
Moslem and wanted to join in the fight
against the godless Soviet aggressors. Nut’s
story was plausible to his captors. They
knew his home territory, the southern

38 SOMMER OF FORTUNE

OCTOBER 85

Soviet republic of Tadzhikistan, is full of
devout Moslems who have suffered long
and hard under oppression by the commu¬
nist government in faraway Moscow. After
six months of secret surveillance, Abdul
Mohammed was satisfied his prisoner was
not a spy. Nur has been one of his best
fighters since then.

After 90 minutes of walking, we halt at a
small village of mud houses. Several guer¬
rilla groups cooperating in the attack have
agreed to rendezvous here. Ours is the first
to arrive, slumping along a mud wall for
rest.

Plopping down next to me, Usman smiles
and gives me an apple from his pouch. I

Undeterred by being an outstanding target,
an Afghan freedom fighter shoulder-fires a
73mm recoilless gun at the Afghan army
garrison.

19

■

enthusiastically devour the fruit while he
watches with a grin. After tossing the core
away, I pull my hat down over my eyes for a
snooze.

But Usman wants entertainment from the
Westerner. He nudges my side and tries out
one of the few English words I’ve taught
him. “Pho-tos?” he carefully pronounces.

I ignore him, pretending to already be
asleep. But Usman knows better. He chuck¬
les and prods my ribs even harder. “Phil-ip,
pho-tos.** I try to maintain my ruse, but
Usman persists, laughing at what he knows
is fake slumber.

Finally, I crack a laugh myself. I sit up
and pull out a few of the photos I carry —

girlfriend, Afghan friends, relatives and the
like. He looks carefully at each one and
smiles, occasionally pointing and indicating
that he likes the way the person looks or that
they remind him of someone he knows. He
returns them with a “Thank you.”

Throughout the afternoon small bands of
mujahideen like ours file into the village,
swelling the ranks gathered along the Wall.
We will launch the attack at. 1600. The
commanders reason that a late-aftemoon
assault will leave them all night to take the
post if it does not surrender as expected.

By 1500 over 100 modestly armed mu¬
jahideen have gathered. The word comes
down to prepare to march. The fort is only a

A _

- ■_ii

KIA

Usman, right, cares for an injured village
girl as her father watches. A week later
when the author/photographer accompanied
Usman and his mujahid group in a daylight
attack on a fort near Kabul, Usman lost his
foot in a landmine explosion. Edwards and
Usman’s other friends succeeded in getting
him to a doctor two hours away. Then they
set ofT on a three-day race to get him to a
border hospital. Usman died the first night
as they struggled through the high
mountains toward Khyber Pass.

short walk. The commanders divide the
force into units according to what type of
weapons they carry . I join a six-man recoil-
less gun crew. There are at least 10 recoil-
less gun crews in our force.

Soon after leaving the village, we climb
away, from the stream. We cross a few hun¬
dred yards of bare ground to reach a chest-
high wall of rock. The fault snakes along
hardscrabble earth for several hundred
yards in each direction.

Crawling up to the rocky wall, 1 peer over
the rim. There is the fort, a gigantic earthen
block that is almost the only thing sticking
up across 500 yards of bare, flat, wide-open
ground. Naked mountains rise behind it. So
this escarpment will be our firing line— and
our only cover,

I begin to grow more skeptical. A day¬
light attack over bare ground against a
heavily fortified position. I know the fort
must have superior firepower, too, because

Abdul Mohammed and his fellow com¬
manders are motivated to attack because of
their need to capture weapons and ammo.
International aid has been insufficient and
erratic. As I gaze at our target, the plan
hardly seems tactically sound.

Saying a quick, silent prayer, I hope
Haliq’s forecast of quick surrender holds
true. The mujahideen seem confident.

I try to reassure myself. At least our foe is
a garrison of Afghan army regulars — not

BELOW: Under return fire from the government fort, mujahideen with a
73mm Soviet recoilless gun run for scarce cover. Two plumes of smoke
rising over the fort attest to the gun crew’s skill and accuracy. BOTTOM
LEFT: Afghan freedom fighter wields a Chinese 40mm Type 69 grenade
launcher during the daytime attack on a government army post near
Kabul. BOTTOM CENTER: Thick smoke rising from the garrison
probably means mgjor damage. Suffering at the hands of such modestly
armed and poorly supplied guerrilla bands, plus the reluctance of the
Soviets to send helicopters from only five miles away to defend the outpost*
can only serve to further demoralize Afghan government troops barricaded
inside. BOTTOM RIGHT: Two Afjghan freedom fighters support an attack
on the fort with fire from an RPD, left, and a PKM.

the well-trained Soviet troops usually de¬
ployed in this area. Since the communist
takeover, the Afghan army has shrunk from
80,000 troops to 30,000, mainly due to de¬
sertions to the mujahideen. And this is in
face of an intense and highly intimidating
door-to-door conscription campaign.

Moreover, I tell myself, what remains of
the army is largely demoralized and unreli¬
able, as Haliq had said. I have heard reports
that when they are on joint operations,
Soviet troops confiscate weapons every
night from their Afghan comrades.
Apparently Ivan is afraid that these weapons
might be given voluntarily to guerrilla infil¬
trators under cover of darkness. Then there
is always the possibility that the Afghan
soldiers might turn these weapons on their
Soviet “allies.”

A scream startles me from my reverie.

* 4 Allah Akbar! ’ ’ cries a gunner from atop
the wall. I look up as his recoilless gun
spews forth a deafening blast of fire and
smoke. He is right: God is great. The first
round is a direct hit, blasting mud and tim¬
bers from above the sally port.

I look at my watch. It is 1600 precisely.
Bullets from medium and heavy machine
guns are already chipping shards of mud
from the fort wall.

Very quickly return fire begins pinging
off the rock wall in front of me and whining
overhead. I duck and the recoilless gunner
jumps for cover. There is a lull. I risk a peep
over the rim. Along the fort’s ramparts a
yellow stitching of heavy machine-gun fire
flashes and crashes. Rock chips and dust
rain down on me as I crouch again just
before the rounds begin chewing at our rock
cover.

Then I hear it. The tell-tale ka-thunk,
ka-thunk, ka-thunk of dropped rounds leav¬
ing mortar tubes inside the garrison. There
will be no quick, easy surrender. They will
fight. This thought is driven home with
emphasis as the ground shakes with the im¬
pact of mortar rounds behind us.

Then return fire breaks off. The soldier
next to me, the recoilless gunner, im¬
mediately jumps back up on the wall with
his weapon to take aim. If a sniper in the
garrison is watching, this guy must make a
truly outstanding target.

“Allah Akbar!" he screams before un¬
leashing another jolting report from the re¬
coilless gun. His aim is exemplary. This and
another well-placed round elicit a gray
plume of heavy smoke from inside the fort.

I begin to understand. No doubt about it.

In Afghanistan, God speaks through the
muzzle of a 73mm recoilless gun.

By sundown smoke is rising from the fort
in two places. The mujahideen still cannot
advance on the fort until complete darkness.
So the battle remains a distant exchange of
mortar, rocket and automatic weapons fire.

Just as the sun drops behind the moun¬
tains on the opposite side of the fort and we
consider a possible advance, the enemy ups
the ante significantly. A jarring explosion

Continued on page 76

SOLIHKIt OF FOKTIWF 41

SOF HISTORY

AIR APACHES
ACROSS THE
PACIFIC

Ma Deuce Beefs Up B-25s

In early 1943 , fifteen months after the
Japanese devastated the U.S. Pacific Fleet
at Pearl Harbor, anew weapons system was
being tested which would have a profound
effect on the conduct of the war in the Pacif¬
ic — the B-25 strafer.

In Australia, at the rear base of the newly
constituted 5th Air Force, Major Paul I.
“Pappy” Gunn, an engineer and tinkerer

by Lawrence Hickey

who had recently escaped from the Philip¬
pines, was about to unleash a devastating
machine for eliminating Japan’s ability to
make and sustain war in the Southwest Pa¬
cific. By removing the bombardier-
navigator from his greenhouse compart¬
ment in the nose of the ‘ ‘Mitchell ’ ’ bomber,
Gunn found he could install eight (later as
many as 14) forward-firing .50-caliber

AIR POWER HISTORIAN

Lawrence J. Hickey has been fasci¬
nated by aviation since his boyhood in
Kansas. In 1966, he graduated from
Rockhurst College in Kansas City with a
degree in history. He spent the next year
living with a Vietnamese family in
Saigon while working as a researcher for
the Department of the Air Force. During
this period, he traveled widely through¬
out Vietnam and flew as an observer on
numerous combat missions.

After completing detailed studies on
the effects of air operations in Southeast
Asia, he returned to the U.S. where he
entered graduate school at Georgetown
University. He also began a career as an
analyst for the Defense Intelligence
Agency, where he took over the South
Vietnam political desk. During the next
four years, Larry served in the Order of
Battle Section, the Southeast Asia Situa¬
tion Room and as Political Analyst for
North Vietnam. Concurrently, he served
as a consultant to the National Security
Council Staff on enemy plans and opera¬
tions.

At the direction of the president, he
returned to Vietnam in 1970 to conduct
research in the Mekong Delta for a major
ceasefire planning study. After a highly
successful intelligence career, Larry left
government service in 1972 to become a
private businessman. He lives in Boul¬
der, Colorado with his wife Sue and two
stepsons, and is the president of jewelry
manufacturing and publishing com¬
panies.

B-25J-11 # 43-28115, 498th Squadron at le
Shima, August 1945

B-25J-32 # 44-30934, Betty’s Dream, 499th
Squadron at le Shima, August 1945

B-25J-32 # 44-31308, 500th Squadron at le
Shima, August 1945

B-25J-32 # 44-30930, 501st Squadron at le
Shima, August 1945

42 SOIJHFIl OF FOIlTIJiVF

OCTOBER 85

guns in an aircraft originally de-
tiguedto conduct its missions from #, 000 to
IZ^OlM^^fThus j&as bom the low-level
J^2Ssmfe^mwmpon which would revolu¬
tionize w&fftre in the South west Pacific and
mfy&k the hell-raising aerial hot-rodder
that lived in the soultfbf many young Air
|pjp$ medium-bombardment pilots.
JglriMarchj a handful ofstrafers underwent
fbeirbaptisift of fire off the northern coast of
new Guinea, a massive island just north of
Australia . In that action , known as the Bat¬
tle of the Bismarck Sea, the planes played a
decisive role in the wrecking of an impor¬
tant Japanese convoy. The strafers used
their devastating firepower to suppress the
deck guns of the Japanese escorts, then
swooped in at mast-top height to skip 500-
poiupbombs into the sides of die Japanese
ships. four destroyers and eight troop trans¬
ports loaded with reinforcements for the
fighting in northern New Guinea went to the
bottom ,

During the summer of 1943, another role
for the B-25 strafers was defined. With each

bomb bay loaded with over 200 23-pound
parachute fragmentation bombs, waves of
B-25 strafers flying at a hundred feet rained
deadly hail on the airfields of the Japanese
4th Air Army around Wewak, New Guinea,
leaving them littered with the wreckage of
over 200 aircraft.

In June a new American bombardment
group consisting of the 498th, 499th, 500th
and 501st Squadrons arrived on the scene
after ferrying just over sixty B-25s on the
dangerous route across the Pacific from
California to Australia where they joined
the fierce stmggle to wrest control of New
Guinea from the Japanese . Within months,
the 345th f s exploits over Wewak and
Rabaul became legend.

By mid-1944 Japanese air units had been
driven from New Guinea and the mighty
Japanese air and naval bastion at Rabaul, on
the nearby island of New Britain, had been
reduced to impotence. Throughout the cam¬
paign, the 345th — now known as the Air
Apaches—played a key role in the fighting
and photographs from cameras mounted on

■

ji*

This dramatic photo was taken from the
499th’s Ruthless Ruth during the fighting
on 6 April. Photo: Maurice J. Eppstein
Collection

The Air Apaches located two frigates
steaming near Quemoy Island off the China

the tails of their aircraft often made the front
pages of newspapers around the world.

? .v Through the late summer of 1944, the
J M$th helped wrest control of the islands
'between New Guinea and the Philippines
the Japanese, scourging enemy air-
with pullets and para frags and sweep-
die seas clean of shipping. In October
were chosen to be the first American

the troop transports of the unit's ground
echelon were subjected to some o f the first
attacks by the Japanese kamikaze suicide
Corps — which cost'the 345th over 100
dead.

Bytarly 1945, the Air Apaches had been
instrumental in knocking out scores of
Japanese air fields in the Philippines, had
sunk dozens of merchant ships and had
often rendered critical air support to U.S.
infantry units slugging it out with the
Japanese on the islands of Leyte and Luzon.
It was on the latter island, from the air base
at San Marcelino, that the 345th undertook

the mission of closing down the critical
Japanese over-water supply routes which
stretched ground the perimeter of the Asian
mainland. Over the next few weeks the
345th hunted the South China Sea from the
shores of Formosa, westward along the Chi¬
na coast to Hong Kong and the Island of
Hainan, then southward along the French
Indochina coast as far as Saigon. Between
the Air Corps strafers and U S. Navy sub¬
marine wolf packs , the critical sea lanes
upon which Japan depended for much of its
food and raw materials were made virtually
impassable to the Japanese con voys. But the
cost was high, and in the month of March
alone, the345th lost a quarter of its aircraft
and crews to Japanese anti-aircraft gunners.

In late March 1945 x one last major
Japanese convoy attempted to make the run
from Saigon across the China Sea to Formo¬
sa. Consisting of seventeen ships — six
cargo vessels and tankers escorted by ele ven
warships ^ the convoy was detected by
radar search planes and U.S. submarines as

it moved up the Indochina Coast toward'
Hainan Island. The 345th first hit the con¬
voy on 29 March sinking two escorting
Kaibokan-c/ass frigates and at least one oil
tanker, and damaging several other ships
before the lrest made their escape into an
area of rain squalls and fog. More vessels
fell prey to U.S. submarines.

The next day the 345tb lost two planes to
the convoy escort as the surviving ships
rode at anchor in Yulin Bay off the south
coast of Hainan Island. By 2 April, aerial
reconnaissance photographed one of the
surviving vessels in Hong Kong. A strange
short-bowed warship was also photo¬
graphed in the harbor. This was the Kagero-
class destroyer Amatsukazi (Heavenly
Wind). Displacing 2,553 tons, it carried a
special high-pressure boiler which allowed
it to make over 34 knots—one of the fastest
ships in the Japanese Navy.

Earlier in the war, the bow of the Amatsu¬
kazi immediately forward of the bridge had
been blown completely away by a torpedo

escorts Nui

ffifide, * ' v '^ '

Forecasters indicated that,
along the China coast wouldM
6th t setting the scene for M

Apri) t th$

OCTOBER 85

$&Off(he

^. .p^f ttie

which produced the most spectacular series
of fgombat aviation photographs of World
WirJJ. _jqi .

INTELLIGENCE estimated that the convoy
A seen leaving Hong Kong oh April 5th
would be steaming east-northeast along the
co^stof China somewhere between Amoy arid
Swatow by midday on the 6th* The Air

Continued on page 94

A Japanese frigate under attack by^Ain
Apaches near Amoy, China 4Mt & April*
1945. The photo was dubbed “The
Picture of the Year” by the Anti$.Ajr
Force’s intelligence magazine JMP 4 CT
Photo: ILS. Air Force

Still underway and fighting, the
was finally sunk. Capt. Ajbin
the 498th Squadron Leader.,,w
with thrill. Photo: William Rf Withers*
Jr. Collection %

SOI EL SALVADOR

DEATH

FROM THE

DEEP

Naval Commandos

Haunt Gs

Text and photos by Steve Salisbury

Salvadoran commandos practice infiltration during training
exercises.

C ADET Rafael Guzmdn clearly recalled that sunny day
on El Salvador’s coast last April. Six guerrillas had
approached the beach in two canoes without a worry in
the world. What the terrorists did not know was that in a
matter of minutes they would be nothing but bullet-ridden
corpses floating in the lagoon’s surf, ambush victims of
Cadet Guzman’s 15 Naval Commandos, the Salvadoran
version of U.S. Navy SEALs.

“They were making their rounds to shake down the
peasants for *war taxes’,” said the budding Naval
Commando officer who had already commanded several
forays into guerrilla country. Because the Salvadoran
Navy has a shortage of commissioned officers, it has had
to rely on cadets still in training. And what better way to
get on-the-job training?

Guzman searched his memory. “At first we thought
they were fishermen. But then the villagers came running,
telling us they were guerrillas. When they disembarked,
we saw their weapons and opened fire. A couple were
killed immediately. The others tried to escape.”

But that was out of the question. The commandos had
been practicing their ambush techniques the last two
weeks with their American instructors and an alert M60
machine-gunner finished the fleeing guerrillas with
ferocious enfilade fire. The commandos recovered four
M16 automatic rifles and plenty of ammo. The two other
rifles were lost in the water.

“The campesinos were happy,” remembered Cadet
Guzmdn. “We killed three comandantes. Ironically, we
had captured one of them, Veneno, months ago, but the
Sixth Brigade had to release him under pressure from the
Red Cross. He’s not going to be released again.” The
cadet’s cat-like grin made his satisfaction clear.

“The campesinos said this was the first time they had
seen the armed forces kill all the guerrillas and not have
any casualties.” All this certainly was a change from the
days when army battalions would sweep the coast, rarely
recovering weapons, but routinely suffering casualties.

Three years ago, the Salvadoran Navy decided a Naval
Commando force would be better suited to fighting an
insurgency than conventional Marine formations. (The
Navy now believes a Marine battalion is essential, too,
and started training one last February.) In August of 1982,
the Naval Commando unit was formed with 60 men just
back from infantry training at Fort Benning or Panama.
Today the Naval Commandos number 330 men, including
12 frogmen, 90 base security troops and 110 men who
regularly man the weapons aboard Piranhas and other
high-speed patrol boats. Aspiring to match the daring of
U.S. SEALs at Grenada or the finesse and
lightning-striking power of Marine Force Recon in
Vietnam, El Salvador’s Naval Commandos are
determined to keep communist guerrillas from
establishing beachheads on the coastal areas of their
homeland. The Naval Commandos regularly prowl
mangroves, coconut forests and beaches in eight- to
15-man teams, ambushing guerrilla columns and raiding
rebel encampments.

Although the occurrence of close combat has been low,
the Naval Commandos have badly hurt the guerrillas.

Just the threat of Naval Commando ambushes and raids
has seriously hampered rebel activity. Lieutenant Marco
Palacios, commander of the Naval Commando First
Company, put it all in perspective. “We use guerrilla
tactics. Our action is mostly psychological. The guerrillas
never know where we are, but they know we’re there.

Even when we’re not there, they are thinking about us.

The guerrillas are scared.”

1 knew the commandos had been doing well. In late
March, on a visit to Captain Humberto Villalta,
Commandant of El Salvador’s Navy, I got the lowdown.
“Come and see them operate,” Capt. Villalta told me
from his office in San Salvador.

The Salvadoran Navy — not to mention the Naval
Commandos — has been virtually ignored by the
international media. The only major publication to have
previously published an article about the Salvadoran Navy
is Soldier of Fortune (see “Patrolling Hot Waters, SOF,
December, ’84). I immediately accepted Captain Villalta’s
invitation.

At 0930 on 12 April, I boarded a commercial air taxi
from San Salvador to the eastern Salvadoran port of La
Union where the Naval Commandos are based. Stiff
crosswinds tossed the 206 Cessna about as we moved
over the Salvadoran countryside. Under the clear sky I
could see the shores of all three countries upon which the
Gulf s warm waters wash: El Salvador, Honduras and

46 SOMMER OF FORTUNE

OCTOBER 85

Patrol boat security: A Salvadoran sailor and his 25mm
chain gun scan the distance for signs of trouble.

Nicaragua. The landing was about as rough as the flight.
But from there everything went smoothly. Capt. Villalta,
clad in natty green fatigues, was awaiting me at the
runway.

“jHolal Steve.” The burly captain smiled and clasped
an arm around me. “What good luck. You’re here in time
to join Operation Esperanza”

Operation Esperanza was the largest Naval Commando
operation to date. It involved 67 commandos in a foray
along El Espino beach, a traditionally guerrilla-controlled
area 60 klicks southwest of La Union. Capt. Villalta
swears that it is a major receiving point for arms and
ammunition shipped to the rebels from Sandinista
Nicaragua. In some places the stretch of gulf waters
separating Nicaragua and El Salvador is as short as 20
miles. The Reagan Administration has long maintained
that Nicaragua has been shipping weapons to the
Salvadoran guerrillas. The sailors based at La Union will
not only confirm that for you, they will tell you precisely
how it’s accomplished. They see plenty of it.

In early August of 1984, General Paul Gorman,
then-commander of the United States Southern
Command headquartered in Panama, showed a
congressional committee meeting in closed session,
infrared aerial videotapes reportedly showing guerrillas
unloading arms from fast, high-powered launches onto

remote beaches in El Salvador for further transport inland
on donkey caravans. More recently, Napoleon Romero
Garcia, a high-ranking guerrilla commandant who
defected to the government last April, revealed that 70
percent of the guerrillas’ arms come from Nicaragua and
are always secretly shipped in small boats.

“The weapons make a run that starts in the Nicaraguan
department of Chinandega and enter Salvadoran territory
always by sea near the localities of Jucaran and Montecristo
in Usulutfrn,” the former guerrilla commander was quoted as
saying in the Salvadoran newspaper La Prensa GraSca in its
13 May issue. This was no news to El Salvador’s senior
naval officer who had planned Operation Esperanza hoping
to surprise a subversive launch on El Espino off-loading arms
from Nicaragua.

In an interview last August, Capt. Villalta spoke of the
problem of catching the guerrillas red-handed. “Our
problem is that we haven’t been able to catch an
embarkation from Nicaragua yet despite the fact that
several boats always patrol the Gulf ...” and this is still
the case. Maybe the Naval Commandos would be lucky
and catch one this time, though.

Capt. Villaita’s valet took my bag and we climbed into
a jeep. With the commandant of El Salvador’s Navy at
the wheel, we drove to headquarters. A sailor dressed in
blue denim opened the gate and we entered the small
compound. I waved to an American adviser driving out.
Captain Villalta parked and we left the jeep for a couple
sailors to wash. Climbing the shiny tiled stairs to a grimy
two-story building, we headed for the officers* mess. A
couple ensigns stood at attention and saluted. Capt.
Villalta returned their salutes and we sat.

Captain Melchor, the gregarious commander of the
Naval Commandos, entered the mess room. He saluted
Capt. Villalta, then vigorously shook my hand. “Que
bueno /”

“Steve’s going to join the commandos at El Espino,”
interjected Capt. Villalta. “He needs gear.”

“Of course,” replied Capt. Melchor. He ordered a
commando to bring it, then sat across the table from me.
The commando soon returned with a knapsack, web gear
and a spanking-clean Ml6.

At 1230, Capt. Melchor and 1 boarded a 75-foot cutter.
The engines coughed into a deep-throated growl at the
behest of the boat’s chief engineman and we churned
away from the dock. The 10 commandos I would be
hitting the beach with the following morning were resting
below deck. Heeding Capt. Melchor’s comment that the
Naval Commandos normally operate at night, I took a
siesta in the cabin.

These Naval Commandos show their stuff during a mock
amphibious assault.

OCTOBER 85

SOMMER OK FORTUNE 47

The gray vessel rocked gently beneath my chair and 1
was asleep in a blink. However, I was awake when we
cruised off El Espino an hour-and-a-half later. From
beyond the palm trees softly swaying over its empty white
sands, the guerrillas have been known to lob mortar
rounds at patrol boats. We were out of light mortar range,
but, just in case the Gs had anything heavier, a couple
sailors were ready to respond with the 81mm mortar fixed
under a .50-caliber machine gun in the stem. Two .50-cal.
machine guns mounted on the port and starboard sides,
along with a 25mm chain gun on the bow, rounded out
the cutter’s impressive armament. The guerrillas would be
gluttons for punishment if they dared to attack us.

The fully camouflaged young commandos were up and
about,, raring to hit the beach. They had enough firepower
to do it too — armed to the teeth with M16s, M60
machine guns, and M79 and M203 grenade launchers.

But in broad daylight with peasant fishermen casting nets
from small dugouts just offshore, the commandos would
lose their most crucial weapon — surprise. We sailed on.

The Bay of Jiquilisco appeared before us two hours
later. Its verdant mangroves gave way to the small harbor
of Puerto Triunfo. We docked next to a dozen dilapidated
trawlers and disembarked. A couple of commandos
escorted me to a fenced-in adobe house where 1 met
Captain Quijada, the commander of Puerto Triunfo’s
small detachment of Naval Commandos. The dark slender
captain, poised in his beige dress uniform, did not know 1
was coming but treated his surprise guest very graciously.
He was happy to practice his rusty English with an
American. I was happy to chow down on the sumptuous
baked shrimp his assistant served us in the patio.

After dinner, the captain led me into his office and
showed me guerrilla caravan routes on the situation map.

“The guerrillas try to avoid combat in this region.” He
ran his hand through his jet black hair. “Their mission is
purely logistics. Our job is to cut it off. Sometimes we get
lucky with an ambush here or an ambush there. But we
don’t have enough men to set ambushes along every trail
they have been known to use. Fortunately, the B1M (the
new Salvadoran Marine battalion in training) will be
operating in a couple months.”

We moved out again at 2200. Capt. Melchor was at the
dock to see us off and he gave final instructions to the
corporal commanding our unit as we boarded a 36-foot
patrol boat and surged away from the dock into the oily
black bay under a thin crescent moon.

Under fire: Salvadoran commandos take cover behind a
bridge as they return fire after being attacked by guerrillas.

The bay was calm, but the open sea was rough. We lost
our bearings in the choppy waves, but our wonder-kid
skipper, dressed in a T-shirt and shorts, quickly put us
back on course and we made our rendezvous with the two
Piranhas that would take us ashore before daybreak. Two
five-man groups climbed aboard the 27-foot speedsters
and we kicked up spray through an inland channel back
to the ocean where we anchored a couple klicks off the
coast.

1 drifted off to sleep only to be jarred awake at 0400 by
the crash of mortar rounds in the distance. One of the
three commando squads inserted the night before was
raining terror on a guerrilla encampment with two 60
mike-mikes. That was our cue to continue to our point of
disembarkation, an inlet several klicks west of El Espino.
The Piranha crew lifted anchor and we slashed through
the sea full-speed ahead following the glowing
phosphorescent wake of the other Piranha. Ten minutes
later our skipper slowed the twin 150-horsepower Johnson
outboards to a quiet hum and we crept into the 100-meter
gap of darkness separating the sandy shoreline which
glowed in the moonlight. If the Gs were in the inlet,
maybe they would not hear us. The Piranha gunners were
not going to count on that, though — they trained .50-cal.
and M60 machine guns on the pitch-black jungle, ready
to unleash their awesome firepower at the first crack of

48 SOLDIER OF FORTUNE

OCTOBER 85

Taking it to the Gs: Salvadoran Naval Commandos are
striking at the communists from the sea.

incoming rounds. We neared shore as much as our boat’s
shallow draft would permit, then disembarked.

Slogging through waist-high brine to the beach’s dry
white sand, we rejoined our other five team members. The
first rays of dawn tinged the coast in a sepia glow. We
walked five meters apart in Indian file along a jungle trail
to a coconut grove where Lieutenant Marco Palacios, the
commander of Operation Esperanza , and his six-man
escort met us 20 minutes later.

“Hey, it’s Soldier of Fortune! Great!” said the surprised
26-year-old First Company commander in perfect English,
firmly shaking my hand. “They told me an Alpha
(American) was coming, but I didn’t know it would be
you.” The grimy, unshaven warrior was wearing cammie
fatigues, sweat-drenched from stalking terrorists all night.
At first I didn’t recognize the stocky, muscular lieutenant
as the same clean-cut officer I had met over eight months
ago in La Union.

El Salvador’s Armed Forces have many fjne junior
officers. Lt. Palacios is one of the best. The top student of
his class in the Salvadoran military academy in 1978,
then-Cadet Palacios was sent to the prestigious Naval
School of Venezuela in September of that year. Four

years later he graduated first in his class in military
education, naval aptitude and athletics — and he
managed to earn a degree in mechanical engineering as
well. Returning to El Salvador at the end of 1982, Lt.
Palacios received his ensign’s commission and command
of a 100-foot cutter for eight months. U.S. Navy Lt. Cmdr.
Albert Schaufelberger — the first member of the
American military killed in El Salvador — recommended
to the Salvadoran Navy’s Commandant that the talented
young ensign be the first Salvadoran sent to the Basic
Underwater Demolition/SEAL Training School in
Coronado Island, California. After studying English for six
months in the Defense Language Institute in Lackland,
Texas, Palacios passed the grueling six-month SEAL
course, then returned to his homeland to command a
platoon of Naval Commandos for 10 months. On 1
January of this year the hard-driving lieutenant assumed
command of the First Company. He loves his country and
his job.

A scrawny boy from a nearby straw hut offered us
piping-hot tortillas and a large bowl of black beans with
moronga, fried pig’s blood. Lt. Palacios graciously
accepted the food.

“We usually don’t accept food from the local
population, but when we do, we almost always pay.” This
time the treat was on SOF. 1 handed Lt. Palacios a

OCTOBER 85

SOLDIER OF FORTUNE 49

The face of war: A Salvadoran frogman strikes a pose before
a training mission.

five-co/on note to give to the youngster.

“I thought we had the guerrillas yesterday/* Lt.

Palacios licked bean broth from his fingers. “The
campesinos told us exactly where they were. But when we
arrived, they were gone.** We finished breakfast, returned
the empty bowl to the kid, then resumed our hunt for that
most dangerous quarry: terrorists.

Marching over grassy flat terrain, scanning the
mangroves for guerrilla snipers, we reached a sleepy
hamlet at the edge of a lagoon where the three other
commando squads joined us. Lt. Palacios pointed to the
parched foothills around the town of Jucuaran seven
klicks away, a traditional battle site between the guerrillas
and government forces.

“There are hundreds of guerrillas in those hills. The
Belloso Battalion is now sweeping there trying to drive
them south into our ambushes. But there is a lot of
swampland for them to escape. At least our presence
shows the campesinos that the guerrillas do not own this
area.**

According to the campesinos , the guerrillas claim to be
the authorities here. The rebels distribute abandoned land
to their sympathizers, impose “war taxes,*’ draft young
men and administer justice ranging from forcing a drunk
to dig trenches in their encampments to executing
government collaborators. “They*re the law when the

army isn*t here to protect us,” lamented one old man.

The few peasants 1 talked with did not like the
guerrillas one bit. They just wanted to be left in peace.

“But what can we do? The guerrillas have the guns,**
whispered one discreetly so as not to be overheard by a
rebel supporter. There were many young men in the
village who did not look too thrilled about the
commandos* presence and could have easily been
guerrillas on R&R. But as long as we did not have proof
they were rebels, there was nothing we could do. It was
impossible for us to know how many villagers
sympathized with the Gs, but Lt. Palacios was determined
to win their hearts and minds. He had his troops gather
the villagers in front of a bamboo hootch for a charla , or
talk.

Sinewy men dressed in tattered clothing doffed their
straw hats. Plump women wearing smudged dresses held
malnourished babies. Grimy children played in the dirt.

Lt. Palacios spoke passionately to his audience of perhaps
50 people.

“Call them whatever you like: guerrillas, rebels,
subversives, terrorists.** Lt. Palacios’ camouflage-painted
face was serious. “You know better than anyone what
they are: thieves. The facts don’t lie. They barge into your
homes and take your food without paying. They force you
to pay ‘war taxes/ They take your boats. They even take
your children. They claim to be fighting for you. But when
they cut power lines, you don’t have electricity. The army
isn’t affected; the cuartels have generators. When we
come, they flee. But when we leave, they quickly return to
rob you again. They say we’re fighting for the rich. Are
you rich? We were campesinos , too, before becoming
commandos. We know how hard you work. We’re fighting
so that you can enjoy the fruits of your labor. We’re
fighting for your opportunity to become rich. But how can
that happen if the guerrillas steal what little you have?
They don’t work. They just live off your sweat. You’re our
boss. As you know, in the elections last year, the people
elected a civilian president. We all know who he is. He’s
our commander-in-chief. If you don’t like him, you can
vote for someone else.”

Guerrilla death threats stopped the villagers from
voting in legislative elections two weeks ago.

“Some of you here may be confused and sympathize
with the guerrillas,” continued Lt. Palacios. “But
remember the guerrillas are communists. The communists
don’t believe in God. How is someone going to care for
you, if he doesn’t care for God?”

Salvadoran commandos display M16s taken from the Gs.
Many of these captured rifles have serial numbers Indicating
that they were left behind by the U.S. after the Vietnam War.

50 SOLDIER OF FORTUNE

OCTOBER 85

Lt. Palacios reloads magazines after a firelight.

Speeding out to sea, these Salvadoran commandos prepare
for an infiltration drill.

A mentally retarded teenage boy leaning against a tree
beside the lieutenant nodded his head in agreement.

“The communists deceived the Nicaraguans and look
how those people suffer. I invite you to come with me to
La Union and see the hundreds of Nicaraguan refugees
who have risked their lives to come to our country. They
may have nothing here, but at least they have freedom
and can pray as they wish. I’d rather die with dignity than
live under a criminal government like that of the
Sandinistas* in Nicaragua now.”

After the charla, the villagers returned to their fishing
boats, fields and bamboo homes. It was hard to tell if the
lieutenant’s words had any impact on them. They had
received hundreds of harangues from the guerrillas and
were accustomed to listening patiently with deaf ears.

The commandos spent the rest of the day in ambush
positions, gnawing on mangos and taking turns to rest.

The tropical heat was suffocating. Lt. Palacios, wiping

sweat from his brow, squinted at the mangroves with
frustration.

“There’s an encampment of 50 guerrillas a kilometer
from here in the mangroves. We tried to raid it last time,
but the jungle is impenetrable. You have to know the
guerrillas’ paths, which are probably mined.”

According to a Western military source, most of the
Salvadoran Armed Forces casualties have been inflicted
by mines and booby-traps so far this year.

“An air strike would really help us in this situation,”
continued Lt. Palacios. “At least it would blast clear some
of the jungle for us to launch an assault. But it's very rare
that we have Air Force support. We usually even have to
evacuate our wounded by boat. All we can do is wait for
the guerrillas to fall in our ambushes.”

But that did not happen today. We had to settle for
mortaring the rebel encampment at dusk, then marched a
couple klicks to a once-beautiful beachfront home — now
a dilapidated shell. There the commandos set ambushes
again and took turns sleeping. The Gs did not fall into our
deathtraps that night either. So it goes. Sometimes you
wait forever and only kill the mosquitos swarming your
sweaty body. Sometimes you hit pay dirt and wipe out a
guerrilla unit.

Just before dawn we moved out in parallel movement
with another unit. The two other squads stayed behind for
security. Dawn broke and we walked through high grass a
couple klicks inland. On the outskirts of the village of El
Espino a couple campesinos carrying firewood told us the
guerrillas were at a nearby bridge yesterday, but did not
know if they were still there. In two prongs we cautiously
approached the stone bridge, which crossed a shallow
estuary. The guerrillas were gone. We searched for
anything they may have left: empty C-ration containers,
propaganda, booby-traps. We found nothing. The bridge
has been the scene of several fierce firefights. The
bullet-pocked walls and rubble of nearby buildings attest
to that fact.

The next village showed the effectiveness of guerrilla
terror. Lt. Palacios gathered maybe half of the village’s
200-odd inhabitants for a charla . Many had just been at
church and were still carrying their Bibles. “Viva the
armed forces!” shouted an old man after the charla. He
remembered when the armed forces crushed El
Salvador’s first communist insurrection in 1932. But
instead of seconding him with hearty cheers, the crowd
returned home conspicuously silent. 1 realized why,
watching hard-faced youths roaming the dirt streets
among adobe houses painted with guerrilla slogans such
as “Death to Orejas (informants).” The eyes and ears of
the Revolution were ubiquitous.

“You should stay so that the guerrillas won’t come
back,” said a campesino. But a permanent presence of
naval light infantry at this remote village could not be
considered until the Marine battalion was trained, Lt.
Palacios told me after the campesino left.

Lt. Palacios and I walked through the village reviewing
our security. The sharp eyes of the lieutenant spotted a
suspicious swathe of canvas wrapped around the base of a
wooden pole erected atop the roof of a thatched hut.

“Who knows what they (the guerrillas) put up there,”
said an old woman, unconvincingly. Lt. Palacios ordered a
commando to take it down. It was a huge guerrilla banner
reading, “Long Live the 55 Years of Errorless Struggle of
the PCS, 28th of March of 1930-1985.” A yellow hammer
and sickle acted as an exclamation mark after PCS, the
initials of the Salvadoran Communist Party. Since the Gs
wouldn’t need it now it made a good souvenir for the First
Company.

Lt. Palacios was incensed by the guerrilla campaign of
Continued on page 70

OCTOBER 85

SOLIHEU OF FORTUNE 51

SOF SEAL TEAM

SEAL

SAGA

North Africa
to Normandy
to Nha Trang

by John B. Dwyer

U.S. Navy SEALs and South Vietnamese Marines prepare for
a joint mission. Photo: U.S. Navy

U NITED States Navy SEAL (Sea-Air-Land) Teams
have become a household word among
unconventional warfare students. But where did their
well-deserved reputation for toughness and efficiency
come from? SEALs have not been around that long —
their tactical operational methods come from three
special Navy units that were forged in the hearth of
WW1L The men who served in the Scouts and Raiders,
Navy Combat Demolition Units (NCDUs) and Underwater
Demolition Teams (UDTs) honed the varied skills that
would later come together as the SEALs.

The first of these operational antecedents, the group

that can truly be called the “forgotten ancestor,” were the
U.S. Navy Scouts and Raiders for Special Operations.
When word was first put out for volunteers, the call went
for those interested in joining a new “amphibious
commando” group. The first 10 volunteers who answered
that call came from General Tunney’s “Tunney Fish”
Phys-Ed outfit.

The Scout and Raider mission was to work with Army
personnel in special operations prior to invasion landings
— specifically to locate, scout and maintain a position at a
designated beach area hours before a landing, and then to
serve as guides for incoming assault waves. After training
in small boat and rubber raft handling, landing craft
operations, map reading, demolitions, communications,
gunnery, clandestine swimming techniques and unarmed

52 SOLIHFIl OF FOKTIJNI'

OCTOBER 85

SEALs hit the beach in kayaks and scan the terrain for
trouble. Photo: Peter D. Sundberg

combat at Little Creek, Va. and Solomons, Maryland (and
later at Ft. Pierce, Fla.), the Scouts and Raiders were
commissioned in September 1942. Their first mission
would come a month later in advance of Operation Torch
— the Allied landings in North Africa.

Teams of five, their scout boats stowed aboard,
embarked on 10 of the big assault ships which comprised
the North, Central and Southern Attack Groups. The new
unit performed so well during its baptism of fire on Red,
Blue and White beaches that eight Navy Crosses were
earned by its members. Scout and Redder personnel went
on to participate in pre-assault missions at Sicily, Salerno,

Anzio, Omaha and the beaches of southern France.

By December 1944, the Scouts and Raiders were being
phased into new operational groups. Amphibious Roger
One and Two, whose members would see duty in the
Pacific and China-Burma-India (CBI) Theaters. A group of
about 20 joined forces with Admiral Milton Miles’ Navy
Group China (SACO). Though short-lived, this
amphibious scout and reconnaissance unit operated
successfully against the Japanese, adding new tactical and
operational methods to the Navy’s strategic repertoire.

On 20 November 1942, the Marines hit the beach at
Tarawa. Hundreds of them died when their landing craft
were smashed against hidden reefs. That tragedy led
directly to the formation of Navy Combat Demolition
Units (NCDUs).

Using pre-assault hydrographic intelligence, the NCDUs
were charged with clearing any obstacles that would
endanger landing craft or access to targeted beaches.
Formed at Ft. Pierce, Fla., the new group filled its ranks
with men from the rugged Seabees, veteran powder
monkeys and some former Scouts and Raiders. Under
their first commander, former CO of the Navy’s Bomb
Disposal School, Lieutenant (later Admiral) Draper
Kauffman, NCDUs trained hard. The emphasis was on
strenuous PT, swimming and demolition techniques.

All of that sweat and hard work was focused on a job
that would take place on a single day in June of 1944. For
it would be their monumental task to blow 50-yard-wide
gaps in the hellish maze of steel and concrete — the
infamous mined hedgehogs of the Normandy beaches.

Divided into 32 teams of one officer and eight enlisted
men per team, each man carried 40 pounds of TNT
wrapped around him in order to clear the way at Omaha
and Utah beaches. But theirs was a costly success —

A combat swimmer, wearing Mark V breathing apparatus,
emerges from the sea. Unless water temperatures or specific
mission requirements dictate differently, SEALs wear camo
fatigues on missions. Photo: Peter D. Sundberg

OCTOBER 85

SOLIHEH OF FORTUNE 53

Mission accomplished: SEALs finish up a training exercise
with an extraction by rubber raft. Photo: Peter D. Sundberg

60-percent casualties at Omaha. 30 percent at Utah. But
they did their job with courage. Seven of the
demolitioneers won Navy Crosses and a Presidential Unit
Citation which read in part: “The Navy Combat
Demolition Unit of Force ‘O’ landed on Omaha Beach
with the first wave under devastating enemy artillery,
machine-gun and sniper fire. With practically all
explosives lost and with their force seriously depleted by
heavy casualties, the remaining officers and men carried
on gallantly, salvaging explosives as they were swept
ashore, in some instances commandeering bulldozers to
remove obstacles. In spite of these grave handicaps, the
demolition crews succeeded initially in blasting five gaps
through enemy obstacles for the passage of assault forces
to the Normandy shore and within two days had sapped
over 85 percent of the Omaha Beach area of
German-placed traps...”

With a beachhead on the European continent secured,
naval operations planners turned their attention to the
unique problems posed by the Pacific war strategy.
“Island-hopping,” as it became known, required accurate
hydrographic intelligence and cleared paths to the
beaches that were targeted for amphibious assault. These
tactical puzzles prompted the formation of Underwater
Demolition Teams (UDTs). The 5th Amphibious Force
commander. Admiral Richmond K. Turner, ordered the
re-organization of surviving NCDU personnel into new
UDTs that would consist of 13 officers and 100 enlisted
men of four platoons each. The nucleus of those first
teams were formed at Ft. Pierce with the men then
deploying to the newly established UDT training school at
Maui, Hawaii.

The NCDUs hadn't given top priority to swimming —
demolitions training got top billing — but the UDTs made
it an equal priority. They couldn't rely on making it all the
way to shore by boat. From then on it was swimfins and
muscle power that got them to the objective. These
“wehfoot warriors” placed their charges on coral reefs,
Japanese-placed obstacles or any other hazard that might
prevent amphibious landings.

There wasn't much time for those first UDTs to train —
a one-month cram course was all they got before taking
on their first assignments at Kwajalein and Roi-Namur.
After that it was the September 1944 invasion of Peleliu,
then right on through to Okinawa. By that time a
standard routine had been developed: With naval-gunfire
and plane-bombardment support, ADP fast troop carriers
with four LCPRs (Landing Craft, Personnel, Ramped)
aboard traveled rapidly to within several miles of the
target beach where the LCPRs, seven-man rubber boats

slung aport, would be lowered to the water. Taking a
zigzag course to an area 1,000 yards off the beach, the
UDTs began the “splash run.” Swimmers slipped unseen
from LCPR to towed rubber boat and into the water, all
on the seaward side to avoid detection. After the needed
hydrographic data had been collected, the swimmers
moved to a designated spot, formed a line, and awaited
extraction. The same insertion/extraction method was
used for the follow-on demolition run which utilized a
series of charges all connected by det cord.

Thirty-four UDTs had been formed by the war's end.
Some of those veteran “frogs” would see service in Korea
and in Vietnam. Some were also there to take command
positions when personnel for the first SEAL teams were
drawn from the ranks of UDTs 11, 12 and 21.

On to Vietnam

SEAL teams were established 1 January 1962 as the
Navy's response to JFK's personally led counterinsurgency
initiative. But the Navy was already on the road toward a
SEAL capability. In June 1961, an action proposal letter
generated by the office of the Chief of Naval Operations
(CNO) called for “development of an improved naval
guerrilla/counterguerrilla warfare capability” with
emphasis on the “urgent need for the Navy to plan for
aggressive implementation of naval responsibilities in
restricted waters and rivers of critical areas, especially in
the Far East.”

Inevitably, a study group was set up comprised of Scout
and Raider, NCDU and UDT veterans, among others.
Their experience and knowledge led to the establishment
of Special Operations Teams. These teams were to
conduct and support paramilitary operations, would be
separate components within Underwater Demolition Units
One and Two and would have the cover name SEALs, a
contraction of Sea-Air-Land which also defined their
multiple capabilities. The doctrine was transformed into
reality with promulgation of CNO Speedletter #697P30,

11 December 1961 which authorized formation of U.S.
Navy SEAL teams.

A SEAL's familiar attire: This frogman wears the newly
designed closed-circuit breathing gear as he emerges from
the ocean after a training swim.

54 SOLIIIER 01 FORTUNE

OCTOBER 85

As ultimately refined and stated, the SEAL mission had
five parts: 1) to destroy enemy shipping, harbor facilities,
bridges, railways and other maritime and riverine
environment installations; 2) infiltrate/exfiltrate agents,
guerrillas, evaders and escapees; 3) conduct
reconnaissance, surveillance and perform other
intel-gathering activities; 4) accomplish limited
counterinsurgency civic action tasks normally incidental
to counterguerrilla operations and 5) organize, train,
assist and advise U.S., allied and other friendly
military/paramilitary forces in the conduct of the above
tasks.

The SEALs wasted no time in executing that mission
and several months after their formation were sending
seven-man Mobile Training Teams to Naval Advisory
Detachment (NAD) Da Nang. They trained and advised
Vietnamese Navy counterparts, the Lien Doi Nguoi Nhai
(LDNN) and commando platoon personnel in underwater
demolition, long-distance swimming, land navigation,
unarmed combat, counterguerrilla/insurgency and raiding
techniques.

NAD Da Nang was a SOG base. It was from there that
Vietnam LDNN and commandos launched their raids
against North Vietnam above the 17th parallel. In what
became known as SOG OPS 31 Maritime Operations,
NAD Da Nang operations ran psy-ops involving
“borrowed” North Vietnamese who were taken to Phoenix
Island for indoctrination. After royal treatment, medical
care and instructions, they were given radios and returned
north. A few of them paid back U.S. hospitality — they
sent back hard intelligence.

But the major SEAL commitment was to the Rung Sat
Special Zone (RSSZ) — the so-called “Forest of
Assassins” — and the Mekong Delta with SEAL Team
One deploying Detachment Golf to Nha Be in early 1966,
followed by Team Two establishing Det. Alpha in early
1967. In March and April of 1966, Det. Golf SEALs
participated in Operation Jackstay, the first amphibious
operation into the 400-square-mile hell of the RSSZ.
Although supposedly limited to recon and intel-gathering
patrols, by the end of 1966, Det. Golf SEALs had
accounted for 100 VC KIA, 21 sampans and two junks
destroyed, 33 huts and bunkers demolished, 521,600
pounds of rice captured or destroyed, numerous arms and
munitions captured, plus retrieval of many enemy
documents which proved valuable in ongoing operations.

In 1967 Detachments Golf and Alpha began taking it to
the VC in what had previously been unmolested areas,
unleashing raids and ambushes, locating yet more
weapons caches and capturing more documents.

When not stalking the enemy in his own back yard,
SEALs worked with riverine and coastal Task Forces 115
and 116 in combined operations that further damaged the
VCs ability to act with impunity in the Delta. In 1967, in
response to their devastating effectiveness, General
Westmoreland stated “I would like to have a thousand
more like them.”

As operations increased and intensified, direct-air and
boat-support units were established. Helicopter Attack
Squadron Three (HAL-3) was formed in April 1967. First
based at Vung Tau and then later at Binh Tuy, its Huey
gunships logged 35,000 hours and 600 combat missions
per year in support of SEAL missions. Ultimately, HAL-3
grew to nine operational detachments and served until
1972.

Because of the demanding nature of operating in the
Mekong Delta, SEALs served six-month instead of
12-month stints. Most SEALs pulled multiple tours and
logged numerous missions in what might best be called
“mission-intensive” work.

The SEALs weren’t always stationed in the Delta.
Initially deployed on TDY status to Da Nang for SOG ops,

Two SEALs pause during Operation Crimson Tide west of
Saigon. Vietnam severely tested SEAL training — they
passed with flying colors. Photo: U.S. Navy

Boat Support Unit (BSU) personnel went on to the Delta.
Utilizing all the craft at their disposal, BSU crews
provided the SEALs with insert ion/extraction and fire
support. The BSUs would later evolve into today’s Special
Boat Squadrons.

SEAL Det. Bravo was formed as the Provisional Recon
Unit (PRU) support detachment, its members serving as
PRU advisers in 12 of the 14 Delta provinces. Never a
large group, Bravo SEALs, with their indigenous PRUs,
hunted and neutralized the Viet Cong Infrastructure (VCI).
Preferring capture to killing — it’s damn hard to get
information from a corpse — the SEAL PRU Det. was, by
1968, neutralizing 800 VCI per month. According to
military after-action reports released after the war, by
1973 — the last year of overt U.S. military involvement in
Vietnam — the SEALs operating in the Delta had
succeeded in destroying many of the communist cells in
the area.

Since 1962, the SEAL mission hasn’t changed much
although it has evolved. SEAL teams are now the primary
operational arms of Navy Special Warfare Groups One and
Two based respectively at Coronado, Calif, and Little Creek,
Vau The Special Warfare Groups — the first under
Commander-in-Chief, Pacific (CINCPAC) and the second
under Commander-in-Chief, Atlantic (CINCLANT) — train
for and conduct naval special warfare operations and provide
forces to designated operational commanders, as directed by
the fleet commander.

The mission is still the standard special warfare stuff —
mobile operations, unconventional and counterinsurgency
operations, beach and coastal recon, special tactical
intelligence operations, coastal/riverine interdiction,
training/advisory assistance, control of friendly indigenous
forces in the conduct of naval special warfare and other
special operations as assigned.

No special warfare group has an easy job in life and the
SEALs are no different. Prospective SEALs have their
work cut out for them — they must successfully complete
the strenuous 26-week Basic Underwater
Demolition/SEAL (BUD/S) Course conducted at Naval
Amphibious School, Coronado, Calif. And that’s where
the fun all begins.

Continued on page 82

OCTOBER 85

SOLHIEIl OF FOIITI'NE 55

4 4 TY EAR Mr. Randall, if it wasn’t for
-L/your wonderful handmade knife I
wouldn’t be writing this letter today.” For
40 years such praise has typified letters
coming across the desk of W.D. “Bo” Ran¬
dall of Orlando, Fla.

Randall Made Knives have been used in
about every war, conflict, police action and
“brush fire” in which Americans have
played a part since World War II. The
knives that brought these letter writers back
to life were usually one of Bo’s combat/
survival models: the Model 1 “All Purpose
Fighting Knife,” the Model 2 “Fighting
Stiletto,” the Model 14 “Attack,” the
Model 15 “Airman,” the Model 18
“Attack-Survival,” and the Model 17
“Astro” — a very special knife. To fight¬
ing men the world over, they are known
simply as “a Randall.”

The design of these world-famous com¬
bat and survival tools didn’t just happen. As
Bo has said, “There is a story behind each
and every model of Randall Made Knives. ’ ’

The knife that most military men think of
as ‘ ‘The Randall” is now called the Model 1
“All Purpose Fighting Knife.” This is the
knife design that put the name Randall,
alongside those of Garand, Browning and
Colt, in the minds of American servicemen
during WW1L This association with famous
American weapons designers is only fair
and just because the Randall Model 1 was
derived from the American combat knife,
the Bowie. This is the way it happened.

In early June of 1942, with America’s
entry into WWII only about seven months
old, Army Lieutenant J.H. Zacharias came
to Bo’s backyard shop in Orlando, with the
request for a Bowie knife which he could
take to war. Bo asked Lt. Zacharias exactly
what size and shape of blade he had in mind.
The lieutenant described a large, massive
knife with a long clip-point blade. Bo said
he thought that such a large and heavy knife
would become a problem to carry on long
combat missions in addition to the other
equipment required to be carried.

Bo got out some paper and pencils and
they began to sketch knife designs as they
talked. This knife had to be a true fighter. It
must feel good in the hand and be able to
slash and thrust as a natural extension of the
user’s arm. It had to be strong enough to
open wooden ammo boxes and steel gas
cans without breaking. The edge must not
be dulled by cutting poles to make a shelter
or a blanket litter and the point must be
sharp enough to dig thorns and other sharp
objects out of your hide. In short, it must be
a fighting knife that was also an all-purpose
soldier’s knife ... one that stayed sharp and
didn’t break or bend under severe usage.

That was a tall order for a knife, but the
successful results of the efforts of Bo and
Lt. Zacharias that day in June 1942 have
been attested to by three generations of men
the world over. In Bo’s order log book,
under the date of 15 June 1942, is the fol¬
lowing entry: “1 Special made; Swedish
steel; Jap Sticker for Lt. J.H. Zacharias.”
The blade length and other specifications

These knives were designed for the U.S.
Marines and taken before the USMC
Equipment Board. Photo courtesy of
Randall Made Knives

A LOOK AT RANDALL
MADE KNIVES

Robert Gaddis has worked as a project
engineer for such companies as Cadillac
Gage and Hughes Aircraft Company.
After a stint in the Air Force as an air¬
craft mechanic, Gaddis became in¬
terested in flight engineering, but his
interests aren’t limited to that.

In 1971, he formed Gadcon Intema-
tional, Inc. His most recent endeavor is
Nordic Knives (1634-C Copenhagen
Dr., Solvang, CA 93643), specializing
in custom and handmade knives. Watch
for Gaddis’ upcoming book on Randall
Made Knives.

for this first knife are not noted, but on 9
November 1942 the lieutenant ordered two
more, and an additional one on 5 January
1943. All three of these are specified as
having eight-inch blades and stag handles.

While the Randall Model 1 has under¬
gone a number of minor design refinements
since June 1942, it still shows its Bowie
ancestry.

As the year 1942 progressed, more and
more American servicemen found them¬
selves in England and North Africa. In these
exotic places they were introduced to the
Fairbaim-Sykes commando dagger carried
by their British compatriots. This special-
purpose knife came to be considered “the
British combat knife” at the time, and has
since become the best-known knife to come
out of WWII. Many of these American new¬
comers wanted a toad sticker like the veter¬
an Brits carried. And they were willing to
spend a fair amount of coin to obtain one.

Bo was given an English-made Fairbaim-
Sykes early in the fall of 1942. One of his
active sports at that time was knife throw¬
ing, and he was no slouch, so he took the
commando knife into the backyard to throw
at a target. After the second or third throw
the point broke off. Well, a knife maker
isn’t going to just stand there with a broken
knife in his hand when the shop is only a few
yards away. In short order, the forward por¬
tion of the blade had been reshaped into a
more rounded and thus stronger point.

This experience started him thinking
about the whole idea of a spearpoint dagger
being used as a soldier’s everyday knife.
The basic style is great for thrusting and
penetration, but very poor for slashing, and
can never be made as strong as a Bowie
design at the same weight. While the Fair¬
baim-Sykes had been tailor-made for spe¬
cific usage, its thin dagger style had become
“the combat knife” in the minds of many
soldiers.

Then and there he decided to offer a

OCTOBER 85

SOLIHER OF FORTUNE 57

RANDALL

stronger, more general-purpose model of
the spear-point dagger. His blade was thick¬
er, almost straight-sided and with a some¬
what rounded point. He kept the basic shape
of the commando handle but made it larger,
thicker and gave it a hand-filling oval form.
The outcome was a dagger or stiletto that
was strong and handy enough for most com¬
bat duty, yet still suitable for quietly taking
out an enemy.

Orders for this new Randall began arriv¬
ing from overseas in early April 1943. This
“Fighting Stiletto” — now known as the
Model 2 — was a quick success. By the end
of 1943, blade lengths from six to eight
inches were being ordered, with widths
available from 3 4 to IVi inches. The stan¬
dard was and still is a blade of 1 Va inches in
width with a length of seven or eight inches
as desired.

In late 1953 or early 1954 as the Korean
War was winding down, a Marine combat
pilot by the name of Major “Tex” Mehaf-
fey came to Bo in search of a really first-rate
knife for pilots and aircrew members. He
was displeased with the ones being issued
by the Navy and Marine Corps. The knife
had to be extremely strong — strong enough
to pry open a stuck canopy or hatch so that
rescuers could get at the man inside. It also
had to be capable of smashing Plexiglas
and/or chopping and cutting through alumi¬
num if you were the man inside and needed
to exit rapidly from an aircraft after a sudden
and unscheduled landing.

After the pilot was out, this prybar had to
become an all-around survival knife. It
could be no more than 10 inches in overall
length, with a sheath that could be worn on
the leg or upper arm. On top of all of that,

* Tex” needed a design that could eventual¬
ly be produced in quantity and made a stan¬
dard issue.

Bo has seldom been known to turn down
a challenge, especially when it was pre¬
sented by an American fighting man. He
started sketching and grinding, while Maj.
Mehaffey was joined in his efforts at Quan-
tico by Lieutenant Colonel Jordan,
US MAC. During the next two or three
months Col. Jordan and Maj. Mehaffey
flew from Quantico to work with Bo on the
development of their Marine Corps Air¬
man’s knife.

The effort quickly centered around a de¬
sign taken from the lines and Bowie style of
the Model 1 fighter. The blade was made
deeper and thicker. The tang (the blade ex¬
tension onto which the handle is fastened)
was made a generous 7 /s-inch deep and was
left the full l 4-inch blade thickness all the
way through the handle. The brass double
guard was made larger so that a pilot’s
gloved hand wouldn’t slip over onto the
sharp blade.

By March of 1954, the design was final¬
ized and the prototypes were handed over to
start the wheels of bureaucracy slowly turn¬
ing. Bo was duly invited to bring his sam¬
ples and talk about knives to this group of
officers on the USMC Equipment Board in
the spring of 1954. The knives and their
maker received a warm and appreciative
welcome from the brass.

It looked like a fine beginning. The
Bureau of Aeronautics ordered 20 of the
Airman’s Model for evaluation while the
ground pounders asked to borrow their
model prototype for study. Then the roof
fell in.

Lt. Col. Jordan and Maj. Mehaffey
finished their tour at headquarters and were

transferred elsewhere. At this time airmen
were going into supersonic aircraft and the
ground forces were exchanging their WWII
leftovers for “new and improved” equip¬
ment. With the two champions no longer at
court there wasn’t anyone interested in mere
knives. The whole effort went down the
Washington drain.

While working on this strong, 10-inch-
long airman’s knife, Bo saw the possibili¬
ties of enlarging this design into one of the
best heavy-duty, general-purpose, ground-
forces knives that ever came down the pike.
The pipe dream became reality and his crea¬
tion has now become a rival with the Model
1 in popularity among goers and doers the
world over.

Bo didn’t have the time, money or pa¬
tience to mount a lobbying effort, so he just
added these two new knives to his catalog as
Models 14 and 15 and kept on making top-
quality knives for those who appreciated
them. But there was no ignoring the fact that
he had designed these two models so that
they could be mass produced at low cost.
The small Randall shop with a few crafts¬
men turning out handmade knives was nev¬
er intended to be this mass producer. Even if

BELOW: A modern Model 18 Survival
knife. This knife has a 7V2-inch 440B
stainless-steel blade and an undersized
handle that can be wrapped with whatever
the user wishes. Photo courtesy of Randall
Made Knives

BOTTOM: Model 17 Astro knife from the
mid-1970s. It has black Micarta scales and
a wrist thong. The original knives were
made for the Project Mercury astronauts.
Photo courtesy of Randall Made Knives

58 SOLDIER OF FORTUNE

OCTOBER 85

Uncle Sam wasn’t interested, Bo wanted to
do his best to lower the cost of these models
to the servicemen they were intended for.

In 1955 a small cutlery manufacturer in
Solingen, Germany was contacted about
making machine-forged and production-
ground blades. Erik Christians said yes and
thus was bom the “Solingen Randall.”
Only the blades and a few molded Tenite
handles were made in Germany with the
knives being finished in Orlando. These
blades were of the same Swedish tool-steel
as the Orlando handmade ones but they
allowed the knife to be produced quickly
and at a much-reduced price. These Soling¬
en blade knives were made through the late
1960s and many were often carried by sol¬
diers in Vietnam. In fact, the Vietnam War
was responsible for bringing about the latest
military type of Randall knife — the Model
18. This hollow-handle, sawtoothed-blade
survival tool was a child of the helicopter
warfare age.

On 8 January' 1963 Captain George W.
Ingraham, Medical Corps, United States
Army, wrote a lengthy letter to Bo from
Vietnam. At that time he was attached to the
94th Medical Detachment doing Medevac
work. He had become painfully aware that
the crew of a downed chopper had some
serious problems which needed to be solved
fast. The first and foremost was to get them¬
selves and and everbody else out. He ex¬
plained the modifictions needed in the Mod¬
el 14 in his letter.

“Into the top of the blade sawteeth should
be cut or filed to cut aluminum, plexiglass,
etc. [for use] in freeing personnel from air¬
craft wreckage.” Then “the trickest part of
the modification’ ’ would be the hollow han¬
dle. The captain envisioned this handle
compartment holding matches, water puri¬
fication tablets, Dexedrine pills plus Deme¬
rol tablets for severe bums or other injuries.
In his freehand sketch he showed the hollow
handle closed by a threaded cap similar to
the present Model 18.

The reasons behind the design of this
airman’s survival tool were well-thought-
out by Capt. Ingraham. From the sawteeth
to the items in the handle cavity and finally
the use of the cutting edge of the blade for
shelter construction or combat, his concept
was excellent. With a knife strapped to your
waist that included all of these features, you
would always have a survival kit at hand if
the shit hit the fan.

Bo liked the captain’s ideas but at first
thought he couldn’t be of assistance. As he
replied on 15 January 1963: “Your idea for
the survival knife sure looks good. It almost
makes me cry to have to answer and tell you
that I (we) can’t make even one for you.”
He went on to say they were over one year
backlogged on their orders and that he
didn’t know how to put the proper sawteeth
on the back of the blade, “but I do agree that
they should be there, ’ ’ Bo wrote. Obviously
this wasn’t the end of this stoiy.

Ten day later, on 25 January 1963, Bo
wrote another letter to Capt. Ingraham
which began: “Well!! I just couldn’t resist

Model 2 Fighting Stiletto. This knife with a
seven-inch blade was made in the 1970s.
Photo courtesy of Randall Made Knives

the challenge you threw at me — especially
since it got to keeping me awake nights.
So!! I got my son [Gary] on it too — and we
worked Sunday bringing the #1 prototype
of the “Ingraham-Randall Attack-Surviv¬
al” knife into being. Here’s yours, the first
and at no charge.”

Bo went on to say that they were particu¬
larly pleased to have found a way to cut the
sawteeth into the top of the blade “once we
set our minds to it. ” For a final test of these
metal ripping teeth “we took a garbage can
lid [no plastic ones in 1963] and cut hell out
of it without fazing the teeth at all.”

These early Model 18s didn’t have the pre¬
sent O-ring sealed, threaded buttcap because
the Randall shop was not equipped to make
them and/or thread the stainless-steel handle
tube. Bo and Gary first tried bicycle grips as a
combined closure and non-slip grip but found
all of them too small. Motorcycle grips were
too large so they settled on crutch tips. They
worked .. so well that it wasn’t until 1974
that Randall changed to the present brass cap,
which can also mount a half-inch compass on
the inside.

The tubular handles of these knives were
intentionally made undersized from the start
because Bo intended the user to wrap it with
whatever materials he wished to be part of
the survival supplies.

The package included a second prototype
Model 18 so that the captain could see how
well they would sell — at a price of $28,50.
On 30 January 1963, Capt. Ingraham had
received the two knives, tested his and was
writing a reply to Bo. He reported that the
sawteeth worked beautifully on the fuselage
of a wrecked assault helicopter. Inside the
handle he put a couple of fish hooks, a few
matches, 12 water purification tablets, 10
Dexedrine tablets and 10 half-grain codeine
pills. On the handle was wrapped one layer
of monofilament fishing line. Over that

went a small guitar string to use in making
snares for small animals. He would have
preferred fine music wire but was limited by
the availability of materials. Over that went
a wrapping of surgical tape and the final
layer was two regulation leather boot laces
of black rawhide, the ends of which were
made into a wrist thong.

Capt. Ingraham closed this last letter with
a statement which many have since found to
be the gospel truth. “I know that this knife
will do the job if the time ever comes to ‘lay
my cards on the table’.”

Bo Randall has no illusions about Model
18. Many times he has said that this hol¬
low-handle, sawtoothed survival knife was
never intended for infantry combat use.
Models #1 and #14 were designed for that
job. Model 18 is the best thing going to get
you out of a downed aircraft and at the same
time carry a few essential survival items to
help save your life once you are free and
clear.

As modem high-tech types, we have
maintained one unbroken thread from our
cave-dwelling prehistoric ancestors — the
universal desire for a good knife. So it was
with the first Americans to explore outer
space — the seven astronauts of Project
Mercury. They were to be computerized
and rocket-propelled explorers of the
heavens, but as men with that unbroken
thread from the dim past, they demanded
the best knife made as part of their very own
“just in case” gear. They found what they
were looking for at_220 Ivanhoe, the shop
and residence of Bo Randall.

Early in December 1959 two men called
upon Bo and proceeded to “talk knives.”
They were especially interested in very
strong knives with blades about five inches
long. After about an hour of knife talk, they
identified themselves as L. Gordon Cooper
Jr. and Virgil I. Grissom of NASA Project
Mercury, two of our first seven astronauts.

They had weighed the factory-produced

Continued on page 92

OCTOBER 85

SOLDIER OF FORTUNE 59

SOF AFRICA

PEACE

HAS
COME TO
RHODESIA

Zimbabwe
is Still at War

I T doesn’t take much imagination to guess
the real power baron in drought-stricken,
economically deprived, technologically
anemic Zimbabwe. Any resemblance to
Soviet influence in a country that promi¬
nently features a five-pointed red star on its
flag and whose people call each other
“comrade” isn’t purely coincidental.

There could be a lot of finger-pointing at
who was to blame for the present state of
disarray. The guilty parties know who they
are and have to live with their shamed con¬
sciences. Certainly the airmen, Selous
Scouts, Special Air Service (SAS), Rhode¬
sian Light Infantry (RLI), Rhodesian Afri¬
can Rifles (RAR) and others did their best
— not to preserve “white” rule but to main¬
tain order, a decent standard of living, and
economic prosperity. But how can a small
country, abandoned by virtually the entire
world and with 60 percent of its borders
bristling with Soviet-supported guerrillas
and terrorists, stand alone? And so
Rhodesia became a piece of history.

What has Prime Minister Robert Mugabe’s
Zimbabwe African National Union (ZANU)
done for the “people”? During a recent trip to
Zimbabwe I found the following conditions
extended throughout the country.

by J.S. Beckman

Possession of any camouflage clothing
and kit, including T-shirts, uniform acces¬
sories, souvenir ammo or weapons retained
by ex-Rhodesian armed forces personnel (or
anyone else) from the pre-Zimbabwe days is
worth seven years in the slam. So clever
folks hide the goods. The paranoid ones
bum them whenever they run across forgot¬
ten insignia and war trophies. (I’m surprised
Mugabe’s boys aren’t out sifting ashes from
brai [barbeque] pits and grills at night.) I
was able to smuggle a Selous Scout beret
and parachute wing insignia out, despite a
fruitless body search and having my lug¬
gage ransacked.

A well-known surplus store had a govern¬
ment-sponsored pre-fire-sale fire, despite
the fact that Zimbabwe could have used the
business income. I guess my visit was about
a year too late for “liberating” war
trophies.

Harare (as Salisbury is now called) is a
city of neurotic-to-paranoid white zombies.
No offense, Harare people, but other than
the South Bronx, where do you see white
people walking through town with their
eyeballs rolling 360 degrees like they’re
checking for snipers? They all looked beat
— like slaves. Walk into a shop, and they

Swearing death to dissidents and political
opponents in the Province of Matabeleland,
Zimbabwe’s Prime Minister Robert Mugabe
harangues a government rally on his
Soviet-assisted march to make his tribal
dictatorship absolute rulers of what was
once Rhodesia. Photos: AP/ Wide World

ONLY A MOVIE?

J.S. Beckman is a veteran of 14 years
with Special Forces, serving on various
Special Operations missions in southeast
Asia in 1971-72* He is currently a major
in the U.S. Army Reserves, assigned to
Special Warfare Headquarters at Ft.
Bragg. He traveled to Zimbabwe in 1984
as a tourist. He notes, “Things were
kind of strange there. One night I was
followed by the undercover police,who
camped out on my doorstep. So I started
talking to people and decided there was a
need to express exactly what was going
on in the country.” At the present time,
Beckman is the manager of worldwide
operations of an armed forces motion
picture command.

60 SOMMER OF FORTUNE

OCTOBER 85

1

look drugged. They’re drugged all right, but
not from any Controlled Substances Act
Schedule stuff. It’s that fabulous group of
comrades looking out for the masses, creat¬
ing a marvelous lack of morale.

Perhaps the people closest to Harare will
disagree. Their problem is that they are too
close to the situation to size it up.

White population figures are rapidly de¬
creasing. From nearly 300,000 at
Rhodesia’s zenith, the count, according to
local sources, is running 125,000-150,000.
With government restrictions closing doors
on certain imports and regulating trade,
white-run businesses are going broke or just
flat closing. People clandestinely sell by
installment, trying to liquidate as much as
possible before leaving forever.

The fever gripping white Zimbabwe is
well-founded. In too many instances,
friends betray friends. The government
quietly offers a 20-percent bounty on all
illegal currency-changing transactions. For
example, if you deal Z$ 10,000 (about U.S.
$10,000) for equivalent Rands, and you are
caught, the snitch gets Z$2,000, you get
three years in the slam, and Zimbabwe
keeps Z$8,000.

With this kind of atmosphere, very few

whites will impart personal information for
fear of harassment, arrest or surveillance by
authorities. A former Rhodesian Army
trooper will not admit involvement in spe¬
cial operations, even normal operations, un¬
less he knows you’re no threat. Casual
admission to former military anti-ZANLA/
ZIPRA (Zimbabwe African National Liber¬
ation Army/Zimbabwe People’s Revolu¬
tionary Army) campaigns could lead to
problems. After all, ZANU runs the country
— for now, anyway.

Any national leaving Zimbabwe may car¬
ry no more than Z$300. That makes emigra¬
tion a long drawn-out process. This limit is
not just a posted rule; it’s rigidly enforced.
A tourist inbound must declare all funds.

Outbound it’s the same, with a frisk and
body search following passport control. I
actually talked to piqued tourists who had just
been relieved of undeclared currencies. A re¬
ceipt is provided for claim submission, but that
doesn’t help if you’re broke. Searches are
seemingly well-orchestrated with wallets
being emptied, pockets turned out, and body
frisks performed to uncover smuggling. Hand
baggage receives a thorough review as well.
All checked baggage is subject to X-ray and,
in some cases, ransacked.

OCTOBER 85

SOMMER OF FORTUNE 61

Even my medical aid bag, though
checked baggage, was thoroughly searched
on a domestic flight. Certain prescription
drugs are unavailable in Zimbabwe, despite
claims of high-quality health care, so an aid
bag becomes a lucrative target. Warning to
all planning visits to Zimbabwe: Carry your
aid bag in the cabin.

Police surveillance may not be common
for all tourists; however, I was definitely on
someone’s “watch” list. Too bad I wasted
their time.

Up front, the government actively main¬
tains a strong wildlife-conservation pro¬
gram. Yet last year it culled 1,200
elephants. Okay, nature buffs, how many
years will it take to generate calves to re¬
place that volume? Obviously ivory is mak¬
ing a few “comrades” handsome bonuses.

Hie well-known African drought has hit
Zimbabwe. Although the government has
instituted programs to get around the lack of
rainfall, farms are going broke. One farmer
liquidated his cattle herd at 18 cents per
pound, electing to take the loss rather than
watch them die. The enormous Lake Kari-
ba, measuring 5,180 square kilometers, is
down 11 meters. Lake Robertson, with a
capacity twice that of Lake Mcllwane, is
only 30-percent full. If the water now in
both lakes were combined, its volume
would equal just a bit more than if Mcll¬
wane were full. (Mcllwane finally filled
with water in 1985 after years of draught.)

Elephants roaming the Le Rhone Game
Farm near the Zimbabwe ruins and Fort
Victoria in Rhodesia days. Now the area has
been overrun by poachers and the Le Rhone
Chalets now deteriorate with the rest of
Zimbabwe’s economy. Photo: Ministry of
Information, Federation of Rhodesia and
Nyasaland

Colonial statues, including those of Cecil
Rhodes, have been removed for “safekeep-

• „ » j

mg.

Tourists are not exactly streaming into
Zimbabwe. Kariba had a 25-percent occu¬
pancy rate and the famous, stately Victoria
Falls Hotel, with a capacity of 350, had only
94 guests.

Prime Minister Mugabe stopped con¬
struction of an enormous conference center
in Harare, designed to attract business and
diplomats, when he found he was not going
to be made president of the Organization for
African Unity (OAU). According to a reli¬
able source, cost of the skeleton to date is
upwards of Z$120 million. A magnificent
hotel perched above Victoria Falls has re¬
mained closed due to rocket damage. Esti¬
mated reconstruction runs about Z$8 mil¬
lion, according to a local source.

There’s a dramatic change in the cost of
living in Zimbabwe from that of the United
States or South Africa. A decent two-
bedroom apartment in Harare goes for about
Z$150 per month. What might easily be a

U.S.$500,000 estate outside Zimbabwe can
be purchased for U.S.$20,000-30,000.

On the other hand, gasoline is over
U.S.$4 per gallon. Discounting any tax
advantage and allowances, the tax rate for
married and single persons making over
Z$ 17,000 is 45 percent. A TV and video¬
cassette recorder combo goes for Z$6,00G-
8,000, due to the scarcity of luxury goods.

You can forget spare parts. I visited a
dozen gas stations and at least six “spares”
(auto parts) stores, looking for an auto¬
mobile fuse. None were available. Even the
largest car dealer for that particular model
had none. Few if any spares, not just car
fuses, are ordered with regularity due to
import restrictions.

Renting aircraft is expensive. Try Z$60
or more per hour for a two-seat Cessna 150
trainer held together with “chewing gum
and bailing wire.” Air navigational aids are
primarily non-directional beacons (NDB)
rather than Variable Omnirange (VOR).
The Harare VORTAC (VHF Omnirange
Tactical Air Navigation) is frequently out,
so pilots accustomed to ILS/DME (Instru¬
ment Landing System/Distance Measuring
Equipment) approaches can usually forget
DME readings-.'

The' Zimbabwe Air Force maintains a
base at Harare Airport, Although there are
other bases, I observed the following air¬
craft in the enclosure at Harare: one Canber¬
ra bomber, eight Dakotas and six or seven

62 SOLDIER OF FORTUNE

OCTOBER 85

high-wing twins, probably Spanish-built
■Casa Aviocars. An unexpected treat was the
dropping of a 10-man stick of paratroopers
from one of the aging Dakotas. Jump alti¬
tude appeared to be about 800 feet. The
chutes were non-maneuverable, similar to
the U.S. T-10. Located to the side of the air
base, the DZ paralleled the runway.

Driving along the A-4 highway, built by
South Africa during the war, I saw patch-
work covering damage sustained by crater¬
ing charges and mines, especially between
Masvingo (Fort Victoria) and the Beitbridge
(near Messina, Transvaal) border crossing.
Abandoned Land Rover armored cabs and
burned-out vehicles, reminders of the recent
war, lie here and there. Along the lower
A-4, skeletons of bullet-ridden farmhouses
parallel the highway. Anthills used for
ambush cover are especially visible along
the eight-foot-wide former main road.

“Men at Work” signs warn of nonexis¬
tent road gangs. Work crews can be seen,
but they’re normally squatting under the
shade trees.

I followed a truckload of infantry for a
short distance near Beatrice, south of Ha¬
rare. No weapons were visible, but these
boys had “Mean SOB” written all over
them. They were probably off to kill “dissi¬
dents.”

Dissidents, by the way, are generally the
Matabele tribe members. Mugabe’s boys
are basically Mashona. According to one
source, roughly 2,000 “dissidents” (men,
women and children) were killed last year in
Matabeleland. So it obviously doesn’t pay
to be elephant or Matabele. Either way you
could get culled.

Now the coup de grace: On Wednesday
nights Prime Minister Mugabe answers
questions posed by parliamentarians and
select government officials on live televi¬
sion as a public service. All questions are
addressed to the house speaker, who calls
upon the prime minister to provide answers.

Representatives snicker, laugh, and act
like school children who have just played a
trick on the teacher. Mugabe generally
smirks and gives a meaningless reply to
each question. He has two rhetorical tactics:
circular rhetoric (avoiding the issue com¬
pletely) or a statement that he is not familiar
with the situation. Here are some para¬
phrased examples (Did you think I’d spend
three years in an African prison by carrying
out tapes of his speeches?):

Q: What is the government doing to
strengthen the depressed hotel industry
to recover reduced tourist occupancy?

A: Yes, well, every industry experiences
a slump. You must understand these events
are cyclical.

Q: What is the government doing to
provide relief to farmers?

A: Farming is a business, and a farmer
must be prepared to take the risk of failure.
It’s not up to the government to help
businessmen — and that includes farmers.

Q: What is the government doing to
offset the desert invasion?

A: (Laughing) I have never heard of a

TOP: Not quite the Are of Triumph in
France, this is Zimbabwe’s humble
monument to independence. The
resemblance to the front gate of Chevy
Chase’s Wally World is striking.

ABOVE: Mugabe presented a more
reasoned, reserved and polished persona
when he appeared in the West for the first
time as prime minister. This is Mugabe in a
1980 appearance on NBC-TV’s “Meet the
Press,” while he was in the United States
waiting for his new country of Zimbabwe to
be accepted into the United Nations. Photo:
AP/ Wide World

desert invading a country. The [member]
must be misinformed.

Q: What is the government doing to
eliminate the death sentence?

A: As long as we have to send our sol¬
diers into the bush to kill dissidents, we
cannot abolish the death penalty.

Q: ZAPU head Joshua Nkomo [leader
of the Zimbabwe African People’s Union,

and a Matabele himself] asks when the
killing of Matabele women and children
will cease.

A: (Poker face) I am not familiar with this
situation.

Q: What is being done to eliminate
incompetence and corruption?

A: Of course, the wrongdoers will be
prosecuted, but I am not aware of any major
problems in this regard. I believe [repre¬
sentative] is misinformed.

Q: What about the establishment of
one-party rule?

A: I feel the best way to unify this country
and create the right climate for growth is
through a one-party democracy,

A few more questions and answers con¬
tinue in this vein before “school” is dis¬
missed for the day.

There is no doubt that Zimbabwe remains
a beautiful country with an unbeatable cli¬
mate. Wildlife abounds. Whether floating
down the Zambezi River, gazing at Victoria

Continued on page 100

OCTOBER 85

SOMMFK 01< FORTUM: 63

SOF T & E

M12

Bianchi’s Holster
for the 92SB-F

Text and photos by Peter G. Kokalis

T HE king is dead. With much moaning
and groaning, ranting and raving, thun¬
der and lightning, the U.S. military’s much-
venerated sidearm — the Colt Ml911 —
has been deposed by the Beretta 92SB-F.

And now that we have a new service
pistol, it requires a new tote bag. Like the
old Colt .45, the M1916 GI leather holster
also will be a tough act to follow.

The World War II variant, most of them
made by the Boyt Co., is a classy looking
rig. With its leather leg thong and a large
“US” embossed on its flap, it epitomizes
the 19th-century military holster. It pro¬
vides a safe resting place for the least-used
weapon in the infantry’s armory. It serves
its purpose and looks smart doing so.

But it hangs too low on the web belt. And
on the rare occasions when the M1911 was
required, removing the pistol from its hol¬
ster proved awkward. The holster’s brass
rivets eventually turn to verdigris, a copper
sulfate produced by chemical reaction with
the leather’s tanning acids. I spent many
collective hours of my own military career
with a toothpick trying to remove this foul
green substance without smearing it onto
the leather.

And no matter how much mink oil is rubbed
into the holster, its leather eventually will rot
and split, given the harsh extremes of military
operational environments.

John Bianchi has been re-thinking mili¬
tary holsters for a long time. He began de¬
velopment of the unique M66 leather holster
for the Ml911 pistol in 1966. His ambidex¬
trous innovation was introduced to the pub¬
lic in 1970, and is still available. The flap
can be opened from either side. It can be
fitted either to a garrison belt through l ¥*-
inch tunnels or to the standard web belt with
a 2 Vi-inch snap-on belt loop on each side of
the holster.

The U.S. Navy SEALs tested Bianchi’s
holster in 1980, but it was not adopted.
Leather’s durability and performance are
less than ideal under 30 meters of salt water.
It did lead to the MX82 holster, an interim
version in leather and plastic.

Despite this minor setback, private fund¬
ing for John’s holster continued and Bianchi
International finally struck the mother lode.
Bianchi’s military holster system has just
been type-classified by the U.S. Armed
Forces as the M12. The commercial version
is called the UM-84 (Universal Military hol¬
ster — 1984).

The Bianchi M12 system represents a
quantum leap forward in pistol load-bearing
equipment. Using state-of-the-art technolo¬
gy, Bianchi has created a military holster
against which all others will be measured
for many decades to come. The M12 fea¬
tures a 1050-denier ballistic-nylon outer
facing. This facing covers a laminated, non¬
absorbent, 0.25-inch, No. 4-density,
closed-cell poly foam core with a 400-denier
nylon parapack (parachute and pack cloth)
liner. It weighs only 8.8 ounces, cannot be

Bianchi M12 holster with flap and Beretta
92SB-F pistol.

64 SOLI)IKK OF FORTUNE

OCTOBER 85

detected by infrared scopes and will float.

The outer layer, made of nylon ballistic
fabric, may eventually be changed to poly¬
propylene, which is far more resistant to
stains, mildew and fading. M12 holsters for
the Army and Marine Corps will be OD,
those of the Navy and Coast Guard will be
black. Other colors will be available . A blue
version has been sold to the Italian govern¬
ment and a gloss white or black version has
been developed for parade wear. The com¬
mercial holster is already available in
camouflage. A desert-tan variant is under
design. The General Officer’s Model has a
thin leather outer skin.

The poly foam core is designed to take a
permanent set after about one hour of use.
Holsters supplied to the U.S. government
will be shipped with a throwaway plastic
insert in the shape of the Beretta 92SB-F.
The polyfoam is now Vs-inch thinner in the
area of the plastic outer panel than the speci¬
men I tested recently in El Salvador. This
reduced the overall bulk by A-inch and im¬
proved the fit.

The plastic outer panel is fabricated from
a tough but flexible polymer. Along with
the holster’s other components, this panel
holds up to a temperature range from minus
58 degrees F to 230 degrees F. It is also
impervious to chemicals from jet fuel to
insect repellent, outperforming the military
specifications by some margin. The poly¬
mer panel has been stitched with sturdy
nylon thread to the holster body.

A rubber disc bolted between the holster
sides at the rear edge acts as a rest for the
trigger guard. A one-inch nylon strap has
been sewn inside the holster to cover the
polymer panel’s reinforcing rib. It also
serves to retain a cleaning rod which rides
inside a compartment molded into the re¬
inforcing rib.

This cleaning rod represents one of my
few criticisms of the Ml2 holster. It has
been fabricated from black-anodized alumi-

M12 holster with hip extender and leg strap
for rappelling and airborne ops.

MI2 holster with shoulder harness which
gave the author problems.

num. That’s fine. But there’s no provision
for attaching the necessary brass brush and
its thick handle frustrates any attempt to
close the brass (black-oxided) retaining
snap. A plastic cleaning rod has been de¬
signed with a jag tip and self-tapping end to
accommodate the necessary brush. The
handle end is also thinner.

The M12’s retention system is another
key to its success. The usual belt slots have
been cut into either side of the polymer
panel for left- or right-hand attachment to
the standard garrison-type belt. But a new
Quick-Lock device permits the user to slip
the Ml2 on or off the GI web belt in just
moments. The stamped-sheet-metal Quick-
Lock backplate fits into a set of vertical slots
on the polymer panel — again cut on both
sides of the panel for purposes of ambidex¬
terity. A rectangular-shaped steel rod is
hinged to the top of the backplate and folds
over the web belt to be held at its open end
by two hooks bent into the bottom of the
backplate. The holster flap is attached to the
Quick-Lock fastener by a steel-rod loop.
Thus, when the fastener is moved to the
right or left side of the holster, the flap is as
well. The flap can be removed from the
fastener if quicker access to the pistol is
required. All of this means that the M12 can
be worn on the right or left side, either
strong-side or cross-draw, with or without
the flap in place. The M12 rides higher on
the belt than the old M1916 holster. It’s just
right, in my opinion.

The flap is held in the closed position by a
U-shaped wire hook which slips under the
polymer panel on either side of the holster.
The hook is attached to an elastic band and
nylon stop tape which prevents over¬
stretching the elastic retainer. This locking
mechanism is operated by pulling down¬
ward on a plastic D-ring fitted to the wire
hook.

Other components in the M12 system in¬

clude a hip extender, which has been de¬
signed for rappelling and airborne opera¬
tions. It comes with a quick-release leg
strap. An excellent chest harness, now
called the XM13, is under development for
armored-vehicle crews. But it has not yet
been type-classified by the U.S. Armed
Forces because it is being modified for arc¬
tic use.

A shoulder holster conversion unit also is
available, complete with spare magazine
pouch. I used this shoulder rig in El Salva¬
dor while in an A-camp near the Honduran
border. It’s a clever combination of a jigsaw
puzzle and a straitjacket. A plastic strap
assembly, fabricated from the same poly¬
mer as the holster’s outer panel, replaces the
flap and Quick-Lock fastener.

That’s simple.

The nightmare commences when you
attempt to adjust the 1.5-inch nylon harness
straps with the rotating T-shaped ambidex¬
trous converter. Even equipped with the illus¬
trated instructions, rotating the converter 180
degrees counterclockwise, as indicated, just
seems to compound the confusion.

After you’ve finally adjusted everything
so the pistol’s butt is no longer pointing to
the rear, you’ll find the entire assembly too
bulky, the nylon straps twisted and bunched
up under your armpit and the holster hang¬
ing far too low for this cany position.

I eventually gave up and reverted to car¬
rying the Ml2 and Beretta 92SB-F on my
web belt where it all belongs anyway. No
wonder the U.S. government rejected the
shoulder rig. It needs a major redesign
effort.

There are three different commerical
models of the Ml 2. The UM-84I fits pistols
with barrel lengths up to five inches, such as
the Beretta 92SB-F, Colt Government mod¬
el, CZ-75 and other pistols of this size. The
UM-84II is made for pistols with barrel
lengths up to four inches and will accept the
Star PD and S&W M39/59 series, among

Continued on page 100

Sparc magazine pouch fitted to opposing
side of the M12 shoulder harness assembly.

OCTOBER 85

SOMMEIl OF FORTUNE 65

SOF SHOTGUN

POLISHING

PUMP-GUN

TECHNIQUE

Professional Pointers
for Shotgun Shooters

Text and photos by Emanuel Kapelsohn

F ROM the trenches in World War I
and the jungles in Vietnam, to the
police war against armed criminals in
the United States, the shotgun is
known as a fearsome weapon.
Because of this formidable reputation
many law-enforcement agencies and
individuals use it as their back-up and
even as a primary weapon. But for
some reason many shotgun users
devote little or no time to shotgun
training. Why?

Many seem to feel that the
shotgun’s power and spreading shot
pattern will make up for any lack of
expertise on the part of the user.
Regardless of how much awe it
inspires, the shotgun, like any other
weapon , is only as good as its user,
and a modicum of training in
technique is not only useful, but
necessary.

Shotguns come in many different
forms: single-barrel single-shot,
semiauto, pump-action, bolt-action
repeater, double-barrel
over-and-under, and double-barrel
side-by-side. But the shotgun that
most military and police agencies
have adopted, almost to the exclusion
of any other action type, is the
pump-action.

Many law-enforcement agencies
have stepped up basic training in the
proper handling of pump-action
shotguns, but such combat shotgun

techniques should not be limited to
law-enforcement personnel only. It
should be delivered to anybody who
handles the popular pump gun.

Weapon Condition

For military combat use, or in police
use when the “enemy” has been
engaged, it may be appropriate to
carry the shotgun fully loaded and
chambered, with the safety engaged:
“cocked and locked,” as the pistol
shooters say. All the user has to do to
fire is release the safety and pull the
trigger.

For most police, guard, and home
protection use, however, where some
degree of readiness can reasonably
be traded off in favor of greater
safety, the shotgun is better kept in
cruiser-safe condition. This is so
called because it is the condition
commonly mandated by police
departments for shotguns carried in
the patrol cars. In cruiser safe, the
pump gun’s magazine is fully loaded,
but the chamber is empty, and the
hammer has been dropped on the
empty chamber. The safety should be
left “off.”

To arm a cruiser-safe shotgun for
firing, the user need only pump the
action. With a little bit of practice, this
can be accomplished within the same
time it takes to point the shotgun at a
target, so little — if any — time is lost
in return for the safer mode of carry.

Agencies which require the shotguns
to be carried with magazines loaded,
but with the actions locked closed
(hammer not dropped on the empty
chamber), or with the safeties “on,"
or, worse yet, with both the action
locked and the safety on, are placing
too many impediments in the way of
the shooter. In the stress of a violent
encounter, the officer may remember
all the steps he needs to take to arm
his weapon, but the action lock and
safety on most shotguns are neither
large enough nor conveniently located
to be manipulated surely and quickly.
With winter gloves on, forget it. In this
age of consumer protection we must
remember that the ability to do
damage is the essence of weapons,
and if we try to make weapons too
safe, they become useless.

Once they have mastered the
technique of cycling the action while
the shotgun is being raised into firing
position, many shooters find the
cruiser-safe mode preferable to
carrying the shotgun armed and trying
to release a small or poorly located
safety under stress, especially if
gloves are worn.

The cruiser-safe condition has
several other advantages. The police
officer who carries his shotgun in
cruiser safe does not necessarily
become point man of the operation,
as he most assuredly will if his fellow

66 SOLDIER OF FORTUNE

OCTOBER 85

A casual carrying position may be
suitable for bird hunting, but is slow
into action, unsafe, and unprofessional
in appearance for serious shotgun use.

officers hear him rack the action
prematurely. Would you like to have a
nervous shotgunner with a cocked
12-gauge behind your back going into
a dark warehouse? In addition, if an
attacker succeeds in wrestling the
shotgun away from the officer, the
cruiser-safe mode may provide
several seconds for the officer to
regain control of the situation before
the gun-grabber figures out how to
make the shotgun fire. In the case of
an officer who is also armed with a
handgun, this is the time to use it!

Finally, if the shotgun is kept in
cruiser safe until the officer is in the
vicinity of the criminal, the sound of
the shotgun being armed becomes a
powerful psychological deterrent
which would have been wasted if the
shotgun had been armed upon being
taken out of the police car a block
away. Racking, or arming, the
shotgun is something like yelling
“Come on out, or we’ll send in the
dogs,” preferably accompanied by
eager barking in the background.

To put a shotgun in cruiser safe,
simply load the magazine, open the
action slightly to be sure the chamber
is empty , point the gun in a safe
direction, and pull the trigger. Leave
the safety “off.”

To reduce an already-armed
shotgun to cruiser safe, pull the slide
back slowly until the chambered round

The low-profile carry.

Protecting the trigger guard in the
low-profile carry.

The high-guard carrying position.

just begins to nose out of the ejection
port, then remove it completely with
the tip of the right forefinger. Close
the action, load the round you have
just removed back into the magazine,
check the chamber to be sure it is
empty , point the gun in a safe
direction, and pull the trigger. Leave
the safety “off."

An alternative method of reducing
an armed shotgun to cruiser safe
involves pulling the fore-end fully
rearward, catching the previously
chambered round in the right hand as
it is ejected, and turning the shotgun
ejection port down to allow the new
round, which has been released from
the magazine, to fall out into the
hand. The action is then closed, the
rounds replaced in the magazine, and
the process completed as previously
described. The problem with this
method is that on some guns, the
second round is held securely by the
shell carrier or lifter, and will not fall
out of the ejection port. Try both
methods on your own gun, and take
your choice.

Carrying Positions

The old standby, of course, is port
arms, but this becomes extremely
tiring to the arms, occupies both
hands, and has other disadvantages
discussed below. For situations where
there is no reason to believe the use
of the shotgun is imminent, a better
alternative is the low-profile carry, in
which the cruiser-safe shotgun is

OCTOBER 85

SOl.MFll or FOKTI/NE 67

supported upright in the crook of the
arm by the forefinger under the trigger
guard, thumb over the trigger guard,
and the fingers behind the receiver.
The shotgun can be comfortably
carried for hours this way. For police
use, especially at night, a shotgun
carried this way is truly low-profile,
and may not even be seen by the
neighbors down the street. And if the
officer assumes a properly angled
interview stance relative to an
apparently non-threatening subject, a
shotgun carried in this manner is
difficult to grab and would not be
much of an impediment to
conversation as a shotgun held port
arms between the officer and the
subject being interviewed.

The opposite of the low-profile carry
is the high-guard position, with the
gun butt resting on one hip. The
purpose of this position is to visually
announce that you have a shotgun
when a deterrent effect is sought. A
roadblock is one common use of the
high-guard position.

Probably the position which allows
the greatest speed, short of having
the shotgun already shouldered and
aimed at the target, is Satterwhite
Ready, popularized by the famed
competitive and exhibition shooter
John Satterwhite. In Satterwhite
Ready, the shotgun is held in the
same vertical plane as the shooter’s
line of sight. The buttstock, which is

Port arms.

Shooting from the hip should be
avoided, as it produces erratic aim,
poor recoil control, and slow cycling of
the action for multiple shots.

down near the shooter’s belt, is
parallel to and touching the inside of
his forearm. If the shotgun has
already been armed, the shooter’s
forefinger (or thumb, with some
shotguns) is on the safety. The
shotgun butt is not underneath the
shooter’s armpit, but is slightly forward
of it, so that it will not catch on his
body or clothing when being
shouldered. The muzzle, angled
upward, is just below the shooter’s
line of sight. If the shooter is hunting
for his target, he moves with the
muzzle just below his eyes.

When the position becomes tiring,
the weight of the gun can be
supported by clamping the buttstock
between the elbow and the side of the
chest. If a possible target is in view
but it is not appropriate to have the
shotgun aimed, as may be the case in
many police or guard applications, the
Satterwhite Ready allows a
lightning-fast firing stroke if necessary.
The shotgun’s front sight or muzzle is
held on target (that is, on the line
between the shooter’s eye and the
target), while leaving the subject
relatively unthreatened.

Firing the Shotgun

From Satterwhite Ready, the

The underarm assault position is good
close-range technique. Buttstock
clamped between upper arm and chest
and the weight-forward stance allows
good recoil control.

68 SOMUFIt OF FORTUNE

OCTOBER 85

ABOVE: Satterwhite Ready is an
excellent position to use in combat
shotgun operations. Gun in the same
vertical plane as line of sight allows a
lightning-fast firing stroke.

shooter simply raises the shotgun’s
buttstock to his cheek, simultaneously
cycling the action if the gun is in
cruiser-safe condition. Raising the
right elbow creates a hollow between
the shooter’s pectoral muscle and the
point of his shoulder, and it is into this
hollow that the butt should be placed.
Moving the butt farther out onto the
shoulder joint itself will be painful. In
mounting the shotgun from
Satterwhite Ready, it is important that
the front sight never leave the line
between the shooter's eye and the
target

In other words, the front sight
appears to stay on target at all times,
simply moving forward along the line
of sight. In this way, the shotgun can
be fired the instant the buttstock
touches the shooter’s cheek. The
shooter’s eye is, in effect, the rear
sight of the shotgun, with consistent

BELOW: Reducing an armed shotgun to
cruiser safe: Remove shell by pulling
back slide until chambered round noses
out of ejection port but does not release
a new one.

cheeking of the shotgun insuring
proper elevation of the rear sight.

Note that the head is not lowered nor
the neck craned forward to meet the
shotgun, but rather the shotgun is
raised to meet the cheek. If the
shotgun happens to have a rifle-type
rear sight, as many military and police
models do, consistent mounting of the
shotgun insures that the rear sight will
come up in close enough alignment
with the front sight, target, and eye to
allow instant firing when buckshot is
used. The primary reason that
Satterwhite Ready is so fast is that
the shotgun is always in the same
vertical plane as the line between the
shooter’s eye and the target and need
only be cheeked to be fired. In
contrast, a shotgun at port-arms
position needs to be rotated
horizontally as well as elevated,
involving not only more time but more

Short-stroking the pump gun generally
results in fired shell becoming trapped
in ejection port. Loaded round is
released but unable to feed.

opportunity for error.

At close range, say to about 10
meters, the shotgun can also be fired
effectively from a lowered, unsighted
position. But the so-called
hip-shooting position is a poor one,
and should be avoided. A proper
underarm-assault position, with an
aggressive weight-forward stance and
the buttstock clamped between the
upper arm and the side of the chest,
provides much better aim, better recoil
control, and better support of the gun
for pumping the action. If the shooter
positions his head directly over the
gun barrel, rather than off to the side,
the ability to point the shotgun quickly
and accurately is improved.

The underarm-assault stance can
be assumed quickly from either the
Satterwhite Ready, or from a
low-ready position with the buttstock
under the arm and the muzzle
lowered. This low-ready position is
especially valuable for use in close
quarters, such as when negotiating
doorways and tight corners inside
buildings, as the low-ready position
effectively reduces the shotgun’s
clumsy length, prevents the barrel
from preceding the shooter around
corners, does not intrude on his field
of view, and makes it extremely
difficult for an attacker to wrestle the
shotgun away from the officer without
getting in the way of the muzzle. The
advantages just described, by the

Continued on page 98

OCTOBER 85

SOI.IHFK OF FORTUNE 69

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Compare the quality of forged parts,
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Section SH-16 • 420 West Main Street • Geneseo, Illinois 61254 • (309) 944-5138 or 944-5671

NAVAL COMMANDOS

Continued from page 51

intimidation against the defenseless
campesinos and was not going to
stand for it. He snatched the mike of
a PRC-77 and called a cutter to
cruise close to the coast. The
100-foot Cam Craft Point, bristling a
couple klicks offshore with four
.50-cal. machine guns, a 20mm
cannon and an 81mm mortar, was a
clear message to the Gs: A navy
firebase could sail in any time with
enough firepower to blast them to
bits many times over. The villagers
ran excitedly to the beach to see the
gunboat. It was probably the biggest
crowd at El Espino beach since
thousands of Salvadoran and foreign
tourists flocked to its gorgeous white
sands before guerrilla terrorism
scared them away.

Lt. Palacios and I sat with several
commandos on a triangle of logs to
eat lunch. Several half-naked
children with bloated bellies,
protruding ribs and gaunt eyes
gathered around us. Like children
everywhere, though, they were
curious and playful. Plying the kids
with crackers, C-rations and
chocolates, the commandos asked
them about the guerrillas as they
gobbled up their surprise treats with
big smiles.

“You have better weapons than
theirs,” mumbled one boy through a
mouthful of crackers. “Their guns are
dirty and beaten. Most of them don’t
wear uniforms either. They’re bad
people. Our mommies don’t allow us
to talk with them.” Smart mothers.
The guerrillas have a notorious
history of press-ganging ten-year-olds
like these into their ranks as cannon
fodder.

A couple of boys came running.
“Los guenilleros are back!” they
shouted out of breath. We slung on
our knapsacks and sprung to our feet,
tightly gripping our Ml 6s. Lt.

Palacios asked a couple of
campesinos for confirmation. Yes,
they answered, the guerrillas had
returned to the bridge and were
setting an ambush.

“Get ready for combat,” Lt.
Palacios warned me. We walked
through a palm grove to an
abandoned school a klick from the
bridge. On this one-room concrete
building, too, the guerrillas had
painted “Death to Orejas” — in
other words, death to the children
who just informed us of the rebels’
return. Lt. Palacios deployed a dozen
commandos with a 60 mike-mike
here, then the rest of us converged on
the bridge in two prongs: the burly
Cadet Dheroing advancing with his

70 SOLIMEIl OF FORTUNE

OCTOBER 85

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SHIPPED COMPLETE WITH

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• Manual

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Night Vision Equipment Specialists
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15 commandos from the southeast,
and Lt. Palacios 'advancing with his
five-man escort from the southwest. I
stayed with Lt. Palacios.

Cadet Dheming’s voice softly
crackled over our tuned-down,
squelched PRC-77. With binoculars,
he spotted a couple of green
fatigue-clad guerrillas hiding behind
the far side of the bridge and warned
us to beware. Cadet Dheming would
have given his fancy new cammies for
a telescope-mounted sniper rifle then.
We crept through the bush hoping the
soft rustle wouldn't give us away. My
heart jumped into my throat with
each snap and crack of the dry
vegetation.

Bling! Bling! A nervous guerrilla
sentry cracked off a couple rounds
with his Galil. We flung ourselves to
the ground and slithered onward
through blinding, choking dust. A
commando on the other side of the
dirt road leading to the bridge
pointed to the guerrilla positions. We
were close, no more than 40 meters
away.

“I want to get them alive,"
whispered Lt. Palacios.

Bling , bling, bling! The guerrilla
posta fired another burst. This time a
recruit prematurely fired back with
his M79. If the Gs didn't know we
were about to pounce on them before,
they sure knew now. It was like a
stone hitting a bee-hive.

Pockoom , pockoom, pockoom! The
guerrillas unleashed a ferocious
fusillade of FALs from a
jungle-covered knoll just across the
bridge. Hot lead whizzed over our
heads, tearing at the brush. We fired
back just as furiously. The crescendo
of popping caps sounded like
thousands of billiard balls colliding.

Lt. Palacios waved for our
grenadier. Crocodile, as he is
affectionately nicknamed, crawled
beside his commander. The
rough-and-tumble commando winked
at me. He wanted to give the gringo
a better impression of what a naval
commando could do with an M79.
Crocodile had a vicious bite, indeed.
The young veteran blooped several
high-explosive rounds exactly where
Lt. Palacios wanted. BOOM! BOOM 7
BOOM 7 The HE silenced the Gs.

Advance, waved Lt. Palacios. The
fearless lieutenant walked point in a
crouch, firing short bursts everywhere
the guerrillas could be. I was right on
his ass, laying down covering fire
when he changed magazines. The Gs
opened up with another murderous
volley. Back face down in the dirt, we
doubled their volume of fire. Lt.
Palacios and another commando ran
to a wall jutting from a bridge
abutment. I turned on my
afterburners to stay on their heels.

72 SOLDIFK OF FOKTI1NE

OCTOBER 85

COMMANDO JUMP SHEATH

TljeWoolly Fully.

MILITARY SWEATER

100% Pure Virgin Wool.

Shoulder & Elbow Twill reinforcing
Patches. Used by the Army, Marines,

Air Force, Coast Guard, and many
t other demanding users. Made to

( rigorous U.S. and British Military^^^H
specifications. Sizes 34 to 46.

The Original — Made in England .

Our Exclusive Sheath provides greater wear flexibility and
protection for your trusty edged tools. Internally lined with
flexible plastic, covered with water-repellent, mil-spec
packcloth. May be carried on regular belts. Clips not incl.
Select for 5", 8", 12" and 18" blades.

Colors: (1 Camouflage, (3)Black.

CJS5( ), Commando Jump Sheath, 5" $8.95
CJS8{ ), Commando Jump Sheath, 8" $9.95
CJS1 2( ), Commando Jump Sheath, 12" $11.95
CJS1 8 ( ), Commando Jump Sheath, 1 8" $13.95
ALC-150, ALICE Attaching Clips 2 pack $1.25

Sizes 48 & 50 $44.95

WP-200 Browntone a

DERBY TWEED New for 1985! mUlM\

Handsome Green Heather and Brown Tweed Mm jMtak/
look is great for the outdoors and casual wear. ^

WP-1 20, Derby Tweed $39.95 Sizes: 36 to 46

CAMO WOOLLY FULLY® M

Registered military style pattern for the adventurous.

Great match up with military camo BDUs. MBp

WP-70, Camo Woolly Pully Sizes: 36 to 46 $39.95 ppd.

Select from these styles & colors:

CREW NECK SIZES V-NECK

WP-110,Olka Qr#an, USMC approved S/77 32-50 WP-121. Navy Blua w/apaulats

WP-115, Ql)*» Qraan, w/epaulats 34-50 WP-125, Navy Blua

WP-120, Navy Blua 32-50 WP-131.USAF Blua, w/apaulats

WP-127, Navy Blua, w/apAUfata 36-46 WP-171, US Army Black, w/apaulsta A patch

WP-130, RAF Blua/gray 32-50 WP-17$, Black. US Naval Acadamy

WP-170, Black 34-46 WP-160, Sand (Tan)

WP-185, Sand (Tan) 34-46 WP-180, Paat Brown, US Fish A WHdlHt Sanies

WP-200, Browntcns-fiago-toofc 34-46

WP-70, Camoutlaga 34-50

RANGER BOONIE HATS

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VRH-3, Black Boonie $11 -95 ppd. **** i ®*^ JP
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BRIGADE’S R1PSTOP -jA
COMBAT CLOTH™ JRLTUS §

Lightweight, rugged, and fully reinforced for the ™

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SIZES

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The Survival 12" Machete is a perfect choice for all
Outdoorsmen. Every soldier should own one. Chop, dig
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MCH312, Survival Machete 12" $7.95 ppd

COMMANDO WATCHBAND

Protects and conceals nighttime glow. Unique Velcro® doublelock
band and crystal cover strap. Ideal for nightwork, hunting, and hard
work. Measure wrist to nearest larger '/*" mark for correct size.

CB21 , Camo Watchband $5.95 ppd.

Also available in OD & Black

Type 8 nylon web Parachute Webbing.

CB1 , Commando Watchband $5.50 PP d - L rn I

Revolutionary design

■ 525 ft is mu,ti ‘P° cketed znd pHEa^fJgM
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For ultra high security! Ideal for travelers, hikers, I/ / f t 1 fljkj
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OCTOBER 85

SOLMFll OF FORTUNE 73

Hansen Cartridge Co. has only one philoso¬
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Kneeling behind the meter-high
barrier, we banged away semiauto at
the hill crackling with guerrilla
gunfire, while Cadet Dheming
crawled to the other abutment this
side of the estuary and hurled a hand
grenade under the bridge just in case
a G lay in wait in the shallow water.
Crocodile and a machine-gunner
came running, huffing and puffing.

“Cover me,” yelled Lt. Palacios
over the din.

Dat, dat, dat, dat. The M60 gunner
kept the guerrillas’ heads down with
sweeping area fire, while the gutsy
lieutenant charged across the stone
bridge, shooting his M16 from the
hip, to a road embankment on the
other side. Cadet Dheming and a
couple commandos crossed the
bridge, then it was my turn.

Crocodile, who had run behind the
wall at the other corner of the
bridge’s entrance, smiled at me, as if
saying, don’t wonry, I’ll cover you.

But Crocodile’s blooper did not
silence the Gs this time and 1 bolted
across the bridge under fire, every
second seeming like a minute.

The guerrillas realized they were
being surrounded and fled. We took
the next hill but could not pursue
them farther because, according to
Lt. Palacios, there was too great a
risk involved in engaging a large

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Commando
mater-1

This is the famous British Commando
Sweater (Wooiy Pully) adopted by the US
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content makes the sweater super warm,
the long cut and tight knit ribbed design
makes it wind proof Sleeve and shoulder
patches provide protection at abrasion
points. Specify size 34, 36 38. 40,
42. 44, 48. 48 S39.75 e«h

Chooiefrom:

□ Olive Drib (OD) Green Crewneck

(USMC Approved)

□ Black V Neck with epaulets and name
plate area on breast (US Army Approved)
C Black Crewneck (no epaulets or name
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□ Camouflage

Z. □ Commando Sweater - Commercially

S made ■ patterned after the Gi ones, these are commercially
c made m easy care 100% acrylic. Although they are copies, they are
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Green or Black. Specify Size: S. M, L, XL $21.75/each.

GENUINE GI

SaSegf

□ Distress Marker
Rescue Strobe Light—

This is a high mtesity strobe beacon which .
penetrates rain and fog and is visible for
distances up to 15 miles Standard pilot j
survival gear, this light is about the size ol
a pack of cigarettes (I"x2"x4%")yet
it puts out a dazzling white flash (250,000
lumens) 50 times per minute for up to 9 hours
The unit is waterproof and shockproof Sold
complete with case and 1 battery S29.5Q eadi.
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.510.75/each

Offer good Jor this issue of
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daring and classy — like the professional’s who wear them These are

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Jary specs Made expressly for us by the prime
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Official headgear for
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Ranger Commandos (Black)

Ariftery & Guardian Angeb (Red)

, Commando Drew (Camouflage)

<* ^ Sizes—6 7/8 to 7V4

(Not sure of head size? Tell us how many inches around your head where
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CANTEEN COVER

■ Military Goods Catalog -
NEW 1985/86 EDITION!

Genuine military clothing, gear and equipment with an emphasis
on camouflage See details on these and many more related items

52.00'each. Free with order.

□ Angle Head Flashlite-

GENUINE GI

1 This is the heavy duty

| olive drab plastic flashlight issued to alt military units
The flashlight is waterproof, non-glare and features 4
different lenses which can be easily installed or
removed It can clip onto the belt or suspender for
! hands free operation, operates on 2 standard 0 cell
batteries and comes complete with a spare bulb
Brand new, sold in the GI box

56.50/each; 2 for 512.25.

’V 5 gss‘*"-

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_ "G \ — vy Two great things about our ties:

■-First, they’re made especially for us in the USA
Irom genuine Gl woodland camo material of 50%
cotton/50% nylon so Ihey can be washed or dry cleaned.
Second, they go equally well with anything in your wardrobe
from your most formal biue pm stripe suit to your Hawaiian
shirt with the funny looking fishes on it.

Choose fiom. Pointed end (traditional and conseivative) or
Straight End (punk and iconoclastic) $9.95/aach;

2 for $18.95.

Ranger Combat Cap-Woodland

Camouflage —latest Army issue.

This winterweight cap features lined flaps which
can fold out to keep your ears warm and tuCk into
the hat when the weather’s balmy. Sizes run small.

Alto available In Olive Drab (00) Green.

Sizes: 7, 7-1/4.7-1/2.7-3/4 $9.00/eieh.

□ Watch Cap. 100% Wool-

This is the genuine Gt. tightly knit, and all-
wool watch cap Used by commandos and
troops alike, this tightly knit cap fits snug on
any size head for maximum warmlh on ex¬
tended cold weather operations Sides can roll down to protect ears
Choose between dark blue/black (Navy Seal or Marine Recon teams)
or OD (olive drab, army) S6.00/each.

■ Black Commando Dog Tag Set • (A Kaufman’s Ex¬
clusive). 2 GI stainless steel lags specially treated to be non-glare fiat
black plus 2 black (4 and 24' [ball chains . 55.00/set

GENUINE Gl

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set of 2 stainless sleel tags and 2 stainless
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Want us to print them? WE'LL PRINT ANY **

THING up to 6 lines and 15 spaces per line

Printing only 51.00 per tag (52.00 per set)

(•sgssas**,

These fight jackets are
issued to military fliers and
are designated Type MAI for
Intermediate Cold. (This
means that it ts the medium
weight jacket, desgned tor
comfort in a temperature zone
of about 2C 0 to 55 °F) Look
for the military designation,
sizes and stock numbers
inside the left pocket. The
outer shell and lining are 100%
nylon making the jacket com
_ pletefy wind and waterproof The
interlining is 100% polyester fiberfill for
the highest degree of warmth per ouxe. This jacket is reversible; outsde
in your choice of either sage green or blue and the inside is survival
orange, it features: two hip pockets outside as well as inside, sewn pen
and pencil holders plus ziopered easy access storage pocket m the left
sleeve. This a snarpy convenient, warm, futfy functional jacket and it
happens to be the latest fashion trend

Specify:

p Sage Green or Blue Shell - Regular Lenflth Only.

Sizes: XS, S, M, L. XL . $46.?5/each.

p Black (nylon shell) or Camouflage (50% cotton/50% nylon
shelf) - Regular Length Only.

Sizes: XS, S, M. L. XL $48.75/each.

flJ&U/ // Long Lengths in Flight Jackets -

O Add W.50 per jacket.

□ US Navy Cold Weather Deck Jackets-

Type A2- These jackets feature w.ndproof
cuff and hip closures pius a full zipper
front with button overclosure. The
Olive Drab (OD) green shell is 50%
cotton. 50% nylon. This blend allows
the jacket to be water-repeilem (rot water- (!
proof) while at the same time it has the
softness of tfte natural fibre. It is lined
with double face pile in both the body
and sleeves. It sports two hip pockets
and a breast pocket with snap closure
The Deck Jacket is cut slightly below the
waist so large or tall persons will find it
quite comfortable

XS. S, M. L . 547.75/each; XL. . 550.75/eich; XXL. . . 562.75each.
Specify Olive Drab (00) Green oi Woodland Camo Shell.

□ M-65 Field Jackets-

This is the basic issue combat jacket
Designed for complete utility, these water-
repellent and windproof jackets feature
4 super large utility pockets, gussetted
back for complete mobility and freedom
of movement: epaulets, adjustable cuffs
and collar, drawstring waistband, hidden
hood in collar Brand new, of course
Sizes are XS. S. M L. XI Long lengths
are available in Olive Drab (00) Green
and Camouflage, Woodland pattern
only. If you’re unsure of your size, fell
us your chest measurement when order¬
ing XS-L SS5.Q0. each;

XL & all long lengths WO.50 each;

; XL long 565.00. each

’ Choose Irom f! Olhre Orab (CD) Grm

Camouflage Woodland Pattern (latest Gl issue to Army)

[ ’ OeaertTan (NATO issue) C CtmauRaj* Tiger Stripe -
(Commercially made in a US mill to military specs)

o

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We’re America’s
Army & Navy Store!!

A*

Xkiirinniii inTnrraw-; 1 - *

□ Drill Instructor/Smokey the

Bear Hat —Formally called the Campaign Hat,
this is a really fine quality pressed felt headpiece
A hat with character No one who wears it
esr-apes a personality change An uncon¬
trollable urae to shout orders or heap abuses,
pursue flamers or write traffic tickets Let your true
or wistful self be heard, Sizes 6-7/8 to 7-3/4

□ Genuine Leather Chin Strap

□ Acorn Hat Cord (as showni
(Specify color, silver, gold metallic, black/gold, metallic, yellow, red or
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*‘EVERYTHING IN THIS AD
ON SALE!!

Deduct 10% from All Merchandise

(except Strobe Light which is 25% Off)

When Ordering!!

PLEASE. NO DOG TAG IMPRINTING ORDERS BY TELEPHONE.

1

■ M'S 5 liner • Cnrtt E 1 - Uigned tfr q-iciily and f

Dog Tag Silencers -black non gkiie rubber Pumper, s for ,

b.-llun p!c- M fcj Jachel !□ prm.rlp icmpelcwaim - ' tta.nni.nh*

I bod, hr-jl Hr&-.J Ne=- US. 5. M L. $ T9.Dfl.EJch; U $1 fl.l&f Kh

tags

SI.00/pair

We’re Not The Cheapest!!

But Then, We’re Not Trying to Be.

J ’For over 65 years the Kaufman name ha*s been respected for offer-
L mg the finest in genuine military goods and insignia. Our commit¬
ment to first rate service is legendary Our service policy means:

• All in stock items are shipped no later than the next business
day regardless of whether you pay by check, money order, credit
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regular shipping).

• Toll free telephone lines direct to our Customer Service Depart¬
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□ USAF Heavyweight
Flight Jacket- Type

This is the wannest flight jacke 1 that
the military issues it features full pile
hood which diapes over the shoulde r s
when not needed This is the cold
weather version of the intermediate
Weight Flight Jacket Type MAI Isa
tured elsewhere in this ad This jacket
is des>gned for subtree-ring temper
atures Waterproof anc Windproof
S.ML S87.75/«cfi;XL $95.75

IMMEDIATE SHIPMENT

SHIPPING COSTS

Please include appropriate shipping costs from chart below with
each order Amounts shown include costs of postage, packaging,
insurance and handling

Orders up to $10 00

$3 00

Orders from $10 01 to 20 00

3 75

Orders from $20 01 to 35.00

4 50

Orders from $35 01 to 50 00

5 25

Orders from $50 01 to 70.00

6 25

Orders from $70 01 to 90 00

7 25

Orders over $90 00

8.00

Canadian Orders-Send Double Amount Indicated.

> Mt lt ORDER TOLL FREE 1-800-545-0933 — CALL MON-SAT; 9:00-7:00 (Mountain Time)*****

OCTOBER 85

SOMMER OF FORTUNE 75

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enemy force away from our sea
support.

“Pufa, we didn’t get them,”
sputtered the lieutenant who wanted
to kill or capture the terrorists so bad
he could taste it. “But we frustrated
their ambush.”

We kicked dirt into the shallow
trenches and pushed over the
barricades of piled rocks the
guerrillas left behind, then rejoined
the commandos at the school house.
They anxiously awaited news of the
firefight and complained about not
being called upon to fire their mortar.
Despite the fact that the combat was
at very close range, they insisted that
they could have rained shells on the
guerrillas without hitting us.
Frightened campesinos peered from
their glassless windows.

“Don’t be afraid, the fighting is
over. We drove the terrorists away.”
The campesinos were grateful. We
acknowledged their praise with
waves, smiles and thank-yous.

It was a short walk back to the
beach — or so it seemed. Everyone’s
thoughts were on the firefight as we
radioed to be extracted. Around 1800
a 75-foot cutter cruised two klicks
offshore. We popped yellow smoke to
mark our location and an Avon
rubber raft sped to the beach and
started ferrying us to the ship. I
boarded the first shuttle with seven
commandos in waist-deep water and
we hurtled through the rough sea.

It was dark by the time the last
commando boarded the ship. We
took a well-deserved rest on the deck,
too tired to care about the vibration
from its engines, and headed for La
Union content, knowing we had
demonstrated once again that the
Naval Commandos could drive the
guerrillas away from El Salvador’s
coasts any time.

Operation Esperanza was a
success. *

DAYLIGHT RAID

Continued from page 41

one hundred yards behind our position
sends everyone flat to the ground. Then
another explosion — and another — rocks
the earth.

Heavy artillery fire. An artillery strike
from Kabul, less than five miles distant.
The fort has called for supporting fire from
the Soviets’ big guns.

I have been most worried about attacks
from helicopters, especially since we are so
close to the capital. But the Soviets
apparently think the Afghan soldiers in the
fort are not worth the risk of losing a
gunship. And not without reason.

76 SOLDIER OF FORTUNE

OCTOBER 85

sscamsH*

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If you want the real Vietnam Jungle Hammock
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MILITARY
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the Army BDU and

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The week before, two heavily armed
Soviet gunships, an Mi-8 and an Mi-24
(NATO codenames Hip and Hind), had
overflown our base camp in the caves. Our
doctor was standing in the mouth of one
cave on their first pass and said he and the
Soviet pilot in the Mi-8 looked each other
clearly in the eye. The gunships grouped for
a second pass. No doubt this one would not
be as benign. As they approached, one free¬
dom fighter scored a direct hit on the Hip
with a SAM-7. It split in half in midair and
plummeted to the ground. The Hind im¬
mediately broke off the attack. The Hip,
apparently with its fuel tanks topped off and
fully loaded with rockets, made a
tremendous explosion that was heard 10
miles away when it hit. Its rotor head was
the only piece left bigger than a typewriter.

So maybe we’11 be safe from a helicopter
attack today. Twenty shells later the artil¬
lery pounding stops, leaving a mosaic of
craters but no casualties. Now tracer ammo
from the post streaks red patterns across the
Asian night sky. Some of the mujahideen
units have already begun a tentative ad¬
vance under the fire. We wait.

At about 2000, as I prepare to move for¬
ward with one of the recoilless gun crews, I
receive a message that Haliq, my translator,
is looking for me. I head for the rear. When I
find him, Haliq is visibly upset. He and
several others hover around the dark form of
a man on the ground. I walk closer to look. I
hear moans but no one speaks.

It is my friend, Usman, severely wound¬
ed about an hour before.

Haliq quickly fills me in. He, Usman and
a few others were attempting to advance on
the fort about an hour earlier when they
were stopped by mortar fire. As they
hugged the earth to escape flying shrapnel,
it became horrifyingly apparent that they
were hunkered down in a mine field. When
the mortar fire lifted everyone began trying
to retrace their steps in the dark.

Usman took one step and hit a mine.
Haliq had carried him back to our lines.

Usman is conscious, writhing in pain. He
looks at me and then quickly looks away. A
fellow soldier knowingly pinches a shrap¬
nel hole shut to try and help a sucking chest
wound. Another compatriot elevates Us¬
man's right leg, which is bleeding badly.

Struggling in the dim moonlight to assess
my friend’s wounds, I suddenly remember
that I have the only flashlight in the group. I
flick it on to examine what in the dark
appears to be his right foot. Jagged white
bone protruding from the bloody stump be¬
low his knee glares at me. His thighs are in
shreds. I turn out my light and look away,
up at the stars, as Usman’s groans grow
louder.

Haliq says a friendly doctor lives in a
village near the caves, about two hours
away. A two-hour walk to the doctor sounds
bad by Western standards. In this war such a
circumstance is considered good fortune. If
we hurry, Usman might have a chance.
Eight mujahideen are pulled off the line to
accompany Usman. He is lifted onto a de-

78 SOLDIER OF FORTUNE

OCTOBER 85

Competition & Combat Accessories

Binocular Combat Gunsight

Mini-14 Pistol Grip Stock

$45.00

The Occluded Eye Gunsight (O.E.G.) is simple to use and effective day or
night. During daylight the average shooter can raise the rifle, aim and fire
within two seconds. At night it's just as fast, but unlike iron sights at night,
the O.E.G. is deadly accurate.

To use the O.E.G. the shooter, upon seeing a target, raises the rifle to the
firing position, keeping both eyes focused on the target. A red dot will appear
in sharp focus in the target area. (The dot will appear in sharp focus because
the gun sight simulates perceived distance.) The shooter merely moves the
weapon to place the dot on the target and fires to obtain a hit day or night.

The Armson O.E.G. has continuous illumination for ten years at which the
luminous cells can be replaced. The O.E.G. is 5V* inches long and weighs
between 4V« and 5V? ounces, depending on the type mount used.

An instruction and combat training manual is included with each gun sight.

Both eyes are used at the same time, binocular vision required.

M5 OEG Standard Model has V’ tube to fit 1" rings
and is 5.35" long...... $129.95

#1.22 D/N includes dovetail mount to fit .22’s and airguns. Has 16mm eyepiece
lens instead of 24mml and is 3.75 inches long ... 99.95

#3 AR-15 Includes*seethrough mount. Fastens to Colt AR 15 or M16with
onenut .‘. 159.95

#2 Mini-14 Ruger Mtni 14 allows use of original iron sights. . 159.95

#2 H A K Includes see-through claw type mount activated by socket head
screws, fits models 91 . 93, 94, G-3, MP-5, etc.. 189.95

#1 UZI 9mm model A, B, or full auto SMG. This see-through model will clamD

^ Ventilated Hand Guard $8.00

Mini-14 Folding Stock $67.95

WASP SYSTEM scope mounts sho\vn above are all steel with
fully adjustable rear aperature sight. No alterations reguired.
!252 — WASP Systems scope mount, blue w/Weaver Base . $49.95
B5098R14 — For Beeman SS-1 or SS-2 Scopes . $49.95

j imt “HOHREIN”

-22 Caliber Conversion Kit

WBmq For the Ruger Mini-14 Series

MINI-14 ACCESSORIES

Ruger 10/22

1236 Matching Ventilated Handguard.

1240 Cage Flash Suppressor W/Winged Front Sight, Blue

1241 Same as above in Stainless Steel.

1246 M-14 Style Flash Suppressor W/Sight, Blue.

1247 Same as above in Nitex Finish..

1252 WASP Scope Mt. W/Rear Aperture, Blue............

2105 All Steel “Wooley Bugar” Bipod ....

1273 Brass catcher, 180,181,182,183....

1268 Brass Catcher, Ranch Model.

1268 20rd Fed. Ord., Blue Magazine ..

1269 20rd Fed. Ord., Nickel Magazine...

1261 20rd Ruger Magazine.

1262 30rd Ruger Magazine.,»♦.

1259 30rd Fed. Ord., Blue Magazine.

1266 30rd Fed. Ord., Nickel Magazine.

1260 40rd Fed. Ord., Blue Magazine...

1267 40rd Fed. Ord., Nickel Magazine..

Folding Stock $67.95

Pistol Grip Stock

$45.00

7100 FLASH SUPPRESSOR. 14.95

7110 CHOATE PLASTIC HANDGUARD.. 8.00

7118 RAMLINE 30RD. MAG.(BLACK)..9.95

7119 RAMLINE 30RD. MAG.(CLEAR).10.95

7120 EXTENDED MAGAZINE RELEASE..4.95

7109 50RD. MITCHELL DRUM.29.95

7106 30RD. ALL STEEL MAG.W/ADAPTER.20.00
7106A EXTRA 30RD. ALL STEEL MAG. ...12.95

11202 CLAMP ON BIPOD...12.00

11203C CAM0 CASE FOR BIPOD. 5.00

11203B BLACK CASE FOR BIPOD. 5.00

11201 BMF ACTIVATOR .19.95

11201 BMF Activator $19.95

SATISFACTION

GUARANTEED

SEND $1
FOR CATALOG

IN CANADA CONTACT

MIL ARM CO. LTD.

10969101ST. STREET
EDMONTON, ALBERTA T5H259

C.O.D. ORDERS ACCEPTED
CALL TOLL FREE
1-800-643-1564

P. O. BOX 1995
ELDORADO, AR 71730

2101 N. COLLEGE
(501)963-5659

OCTOBER 85

soLimut or ioiitine 79

/

FIND OUT WHO’S LYING
WHO’S

TELLING THE TRUTH
WHO YOUR

FRIENDS REALLY ARE!!

Copyright CCS 1985

Now you have the power. The power to
tell truth from lies. And that power can be
held in the palm of your hand. WITH THE
V5A FROM CCS.

The VSA analyzes a person’s voice elec¬
tronically to detect stress. A simple
numerical readout helps you find out if
the person is being deceptive.

That’s all there is to it. No wires, no con¬
nections... it's simple to operate and
completely portable for use anywhere.

And to prove how well the VSA analyzes
tape recordings, CCS will include a special
Investigator's Surveillance Recording
System, The micro miniature long playing
recorder fits in a pocket. The ultra sen¬
sitive microphone is tiny as a thumbtack.
And with the preamplifier, the system can
even record from across the room.

The VSA (regularly $3500) and the Inves¬
tigator Recording Kit (regularly $1200)
are now being offered for a special Intro-
ductory price of $2345, This special offer
saves you over $2000.

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tached door and the door is rigged across the
back of a bony horse.

As we leave, we pass another small knot
of soldiers crouched around a wounded
friend. His abdominal wound is so horrible
there is no hope. His friends are sitting in a
circle, seeking to offer him comfort while
he waits to die.

Our group moves away from the sounds
of the continuing fight. As we cross a stream
and top the opposite bank a mortar round
explodes 100 feet or so to our right. Every¬
one hugs the ground, leaving only the horse
and Usman standing silhouetted in the
moonlight. We begin to pick ourselves up.
We flatten again as we hear the whicker-
whicker of another incoming round. It ex¬
plodes about 100 feet to our left.

We are being bracketed and the mortar-
man is obviously finding his mark. We must
move. We flog the beast carrying Usman’s
makeshift litter. We put ground behind us
quickly, moving safely up the hill and into
some rocks as more incoming rounds ex¬
plode harmlessly behind us.

We reach the village doctor about mid¬
night. He has few instruments and virtually
no medicines. He does what little he can,
trying to stem the heavy flow of blood.
Usman has lapsed into shock. Our group
waits quietly outside, praying, hoping,
saying almost nothing.

Automatic weapons fire can still be heard
from the direction of the fort as the sky over
the hills above us pales with the coming
dawn. Hope fades with the darkness that the
mujahideen will capture their objective.

The young village doctor comes out. His
frustration and sadness is obvious. He has
worked all night on Usman. He tells us that
there is nothing more he can do and now that
Usman’s only hope is to reach a Red Cross
hospital on the Pakistani border.

Abdul Mohammed’s men strap Usman to
a crude litter and lash it to a fresh horse. Just
that movement sets Usman’s stump to
bleeding again through the bandage. He
groans, now in a shocky state of semi¬
consciousness. The doctor has no pain
killers for the three-dav trip through the
mountains to Pakistan.

We set out and travel for 14 hours over
uninhabited mountains with almost no rest.
We all are determined that Usman shall
survive. We occasionally stop to give Us¬
man a respite from the torturous ride.

At about 2040 hours, Usman pushes him¬
self up on his elbows and begs for us to stop so
he can rest. The others tell him to hold on, we
have almost reached our stopping point for the
night. In his agony, Usman looks skyward and
beseeches, “/Wahl” His compatriots try to
comfort him as we move on and I hear Usman
cry out to God again. He then apparently loses
consciousness.

We reach a mud teahouse at about 2100
and stop for the night. Usman has become
increasingly weak and delirious. His litter is
quickly lowered from the horse for the final
time that day. While others wait with Us¬
man, I take off down a hill to bring him
water from a stream. When I return about 10

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80 SOMHEU OF FORTUNE

OCTOBER 85

SOF Readers: Subscribe to
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who are compelled to read and learn all they can about the guns & gear they want to
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in Colt. Jennings J-22 — Super value in a pocket .22.

■ EQUIPMENT

Sleeping Bags — The inside story on today’s revolution¬
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the bottom of things. Reloading With Lee — Working with
modern reloading developments. Carbide Lamps — A
roundup of illuminating lifesavers.Van Sleek Farfoon —
The hunter’s ear.

■ SURVIVAL

How-to: Improve slingshot accuracy. Troubleshooting —
What to do when it won’t shoot. Coldest Walk of the 20th
Century — On foot across the continent. Surviving With
the Best — Backcountry black powder.

Watch each month for our continuing coverage of shooting
schools, survival tricks, and weapons and equipment arti¬
cles written from the survivalist’s point of view.

OCTOBER 85

SOLDIER OF FORTUNE 81

HEW 6 FT. TAKE - DOWN BLOWGUN

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The now Nova XR 5000 POLICE SPECIAL with registered serial numbers is
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minutes later, Usman’s friends are giving
him artificial respiration in an attempt to
revive him. It is no use. He is dead. ^

SEAL SAGA

Continued from page 55

Generally described, BUD/S is a
progressive physical training program
involving running, swimming, calis¬
thenics, obstacle course and basic skills
training. Officers and enlisted men are
both subjected to the rigors of the three-
phase program, striving to achieve the
SEAL standard.

Phase One focuses on physical con¬
ditioning and basic skills. Students do
calisthenics, weekly four-mile timed
runs, two-mile ocean swims with fins,
3 /4-mile pool swims without fins and run
through the obstacle course — all must
be accomplished within allotted times.
Students are also instructed in small-
boat seamanship. Then comes the
period they all dread, the infamous fifth
or “Hell Week*’ which dates back to
earliest UDT training days at Ft. Pierce.
A concentrated, continuous six-day ulti¬
mate test of mental and physical
motivation. Hell Week allows the stu¬
dent little or no sleep. Teams of five or
seven men conduct boat drills and other
tasks which can only be accomplished
through discipline and teamwork.

Classroom work is also part of Hell
Week. Some students find this part to
be even more excruciating than the field
work. After the hours without sleep,
heads begin to nod as exhausted stu¬
dents succumb to built-up fatigue.
Those who fight the urge to give in will
find themselves extending their limits.
And just as they feel those limits might
have been reached, it’s time for a forced
march.

Then it’s on to the grand finale of Hell
Week. Students wearing steel helmets
must negotiate the water-filled demoli¬
tion pits as half-pound charges of TNT
are set off all around them. Those who
survive move on.

Demolitions, land navigation, small-
unit tactics, patrolling, ambush tech¬
niques, rappelling, individual infantry
weapons and use of military explosives,
hydrographic reconnaissance and
radio communications are taught dur¬
ing Phase Two.

Students learn how to set charges
and blow everything from beach obsta¬
cles to bridges. And physical training
doesn’t slack off either — it gets worse.
The two-mile ocean swim with fins now
has to be completed in 75 minutes, the
four-mile timed run in 31 minutes and
the obstacle course in 13 minutes. To¬
ward the end of Phase Two, students
plan and conduct a 20-day, realistic

62 SOLOIElt OF FORTUNE

OCTOBER 85

SEAL-type operation at San Clemente
island which includes live-fire experi¬
ences and demolitions, A comprehen¬
sive field-training exercise that tests ev¬
erything learned to date wraps up
Phase Two of training. Now it’s just a
short eight weeks to go.

Phase Three gets to the nuts and bolts
of the SEALs’ popular image — SCUBA
diving. Students learn the use of open-
and closed-circuit gear, the techniques of
combat SCUBA; all using state-of-the-art
diving equipment. Long-distance ocean
compass swims stress getting the SEAL
to and from his objective and while the
physical training regimen has leveled off
in intensity, by the end of the 26-week
course students must be able to complete
the obstacle course in 10 minutes; run
four miles in 30 minutes and 14 miles in
two hours, 10 minutes; finish a two-mile
ocean swim with fins in 70 minutes and a
5V2-miler in five hours, 10 minutes.

And then it’s over. Of the approx¬
imately 120 hopefuls who started
BUD/S together, 15 will graduate. This
traditionally high attrition rate testifies
to the graduates’ confidence and tough¬
ness. They have met and surpassed
what were formerly considered physical
limits, maintained high academic stan¬
dards and learned the necessity of
teamwork. But they’re not SEALs yet.

Now it’s off to Ft. Benning for basic

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Paper Knife

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Key Ring

5.95

Set of Three

13.95

Total enclosed

Prices include postage & handling.

Mail check or money order to:

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MASTER CHARGE, VISA. COO s accepted.
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Box 346-S

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SIZES 7-14 &N, R, W, X-W,
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Name

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OCTOBER 85

SOMMER OF FORTUNE 83

★ RARE COLLECTORS FIND it

Tink’s Rhodesian Military Camo Track Suits

brand new & unissued

World's last supply. Issued to Police and Reserve Units for
training, sport and Special Ops. 50% cotton/50% poly, 2-piece
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the lot, and is selling them first come, first serve for $69.95
medium size. Less than 500 sets remain. Excellent for working
out, hunting, lounging around, training or combat. Large
pattern rated World Best Camo by the Pros. Illegal to wear in
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medium; $99.95 for large and extra-large.

Safariland Hunting Corp.

P.O. Box NN. Dept. S.O.F. 85, McLean, VA 22101
No C.O.D.s. Payments in US funds only.

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Catalog SI.00.

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parachute training at the Army Air¬
borne School. SEALs may not always
be able to swim to an objective and
parachuting may be the next best thing.
The scenario could be even more com¬
plex. A SEAL might find himself para¬
chuting into the ocean at night prior to
making a long swim to a clandestine
intel-gathering mission. So at Benning,
it’s Airborne AH The Way, running
everywhere with Army and Special
Forces students ... to the jump tower
and those five static-line jumps needed
for qualification.

With jump school behind them, the
SEAL-trainees who have managed to
stay in the program are sent to either
Team 1,3,5 or Swimmer Delivery Vehi¬
cle Team (SDVT) 1 on the West Coast
or to Team 2, 4 or SDVT-2, East Coast.
Since Underwater Demolition Teams
were phased out in 1983, SDV Teams
represent the latest stage in the UDT
evolutionary chain. The delivery vehi¬
cle used to transport SEAL teams to
and from a mission is a mini-
submersible —so-called “wet” because
operators wear SCUBA gear and ride in
open cockpits. The SDV MK VII has a
fiberglass hull and non-ferrous mate¬
rials used for components to reduce
acoustic/magnetic signature. It carries
four combat swimmers with room for
storing demo charges, etc., is 18 feet
long, has a computerized Doppler
navigation system, obstacle-avoidance
sonar and can withstand ambient sea¬
water pressures to depths of 500 ft.

Even after assignment to a SEAL
team, they are still only trainees. Each
advanced student is assigned to a SEAL
platoon for SEAL Tactical Training
(STT) which lasts from six months to a
year. The student is on a sort of proba¬
tionary period — which simply means
more FT, more swimming and more
running. The basic skills learned in
BUD/S are refined and sharpened.
Weapons training expands — CAR-15,
MAC-10, AK-47, M72 LAW, M60 .30-
cal. MG, combat shotgun, 60mm and
81mm mortar, 9mm pistol and whatev¬
er other new weaponry the Navy has
acquired are drilled until they become
second nature. But firearms are not
enough. SEALs learn to use bare hands,
knife, baton or whatever other im¬
promptu weapon might be available.

SEAL Tactical Training takes the
advanced student to every kind of en¬
vironmental condition in which the fu¬
ture SEAL might have to operate; arc¬
tic, desert, jungle and mountain train¬
ing areas from Alaska to the Caribbean
become temporary home for the bud¬
ding SEALs.

The STT student learns how to insert/
extract by kayak, rubber boat, C-130
Combat Talon, submarine, SDV and all
the various techniques involved in
each. He'll be taught the method some
SEALs used to insert on the Operation

Phenomenal Brightness
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The new Steiner 15x80 Military
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proven binoculars. Available with
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rubber armored, waterproof,
and fully multicoated. Their
amazing lightweight Mak-
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you hand hold them with ease.

The unique Steiner prism sys¬
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84 SOLUIEIl OF FORTUNE

OCTOBER 85

Urgent Fury Grenada mission: palleted,
chuted rubber boats are shoved from
the rear of a C-130; the SEALs follow,
parachuting into or next to the rubber
boats. If assigned to an SDV Team,
trainees learn not only how to operate
the craft, but how to launch the vehicle
from specially fitted submarine or sur¬
face craft and post-mission docking and
retrieval procedures.

Tactical Training personnel are
taught the latest in helicopter insertion
... “fast roping.” More efficient and
faster than rappelling, fast-roping tech¬
nique has the SEAL operator jumping
from a hovering helo, grabbing a sus¬
pended nylon rope with gloved hands
and executing a fast-as-possible con¬
trolled slide to the ground below. De¬
veloped by British special forces, fast
roping requires minimum LZ space and
time, both important considerations in
a tight mission scenario.

During the SST screening period, the
individual is constantly graded, must
complete requisite Personnel Qualifica¬
tion Standards (PQS) and has to fit into
the platoon. SEAL tactical training cul¬
minates in a realistic training exercise
that puts everything that has been
crammed into the trainee’s head and
body to the final test. Platoon members
are provided intel data, briefed, given
whatever gear/equipment they need
and deployed to accomplish their mis-

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GUARANTEED DISTRIBUTORS, Dept. 269-AZ64
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NY residents please add applicable sales tax.

OCTOBER 85

SOLDIER OF FORTUNE 85

VECTOR

PACK SYSTEMS

Box 444 Lafayette, CO 80026 (303)665-9220

Vectors Cocoon is both a padded
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holster. Its storm seal closure shields
your handgun from dirt and moisture.
High density foam padding protects
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Velcro® seal opens with light finger
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need to thread the belt through. When
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Small (fits .22-38) $17.95,
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sion. When it's all over, a few of the
souls who successfully braved BUD/S
will have failed to make it through STT.
But those who do will have found a
team home, a cohesive unit of Navy
special warfare commandos who can
get the job done by sea, air or land. They
are now SEALs.

The multifaceted and worldwide na¬
ture of SEAL operational responsibili¬
ties require effective, ready-reaction
sea-and-air support. Teams are pro¬
vided organic boat support by Special
Boat Squadron One’s Special Boat
Units (SBU) 11, 12 and 13 on the West
Coast and by Special Boat Squadron
Two’s SBUs 20, 22 and 24 on the East
Coast. An essential element of the spec-
war team, the Combat Craft crewmen
of the SBUs primarily operate on the
the 65-foot Patrol Boat, 36-foot Seafox
specwar craft and upgraded PBRs (Pa¬
trol Boat, River). The SBU mission
comprises insert/extract of SEALs,
coastal interdiction, offensive strikes,
raids, strike warfare against ashore/
afloat targets, fire support, commo re¬
lay and Medevac.

The Seafox specwar craft is the
SBU’s newest acquisition. Its high
speed, low profile and armament make
it ideal for its primary mission of close-
in SEAL insertion and extraction opera¬
tions. Mounting .50-cal. and M60 ,30-
cal. MGs and the Mark 19 Mod 3 40mm
Automatic Grenade Launcher, Seafox
craft have recently seen duty during Op¬
eration Urgent Fury when three-man
crews from SBU 20 clandestinely in¬
serted SEAL Team Four personnel onto
beaches near Pearls airport for a beach
recce. Its larger, more heavily armed
MK3 fast patrol boats used their 20mm
and 40mm cannon as 11-man crews
successfully interdicted and captured
escaping Marxist militiamen. The PBs
also mount an over-under 60mm mor¬
tar/.50-cal. MG, Mark 19 Mod 3 40mm
Automatic Grenade Launcher and
81mm mortars.

U.S. Naval Reserve Helicopter
Attack Squadron (Light) (HAL) 4 and 5
stationed at Norfolk, Va. and Pt. Mugu,
Calif., respectively provide East and
West Coast teams with special warfare
helo support. The HAL-4 Red Wolves
and HAL-5 Blue Hawks established in
1976 and 1977 revived the HAL-3 Viet¬
nam close air support capability. Both
squadrons fly the HH-1K gunship fitted
with the M-21 weapons subsystem: two
GAU-2B/A Gatling guns, two rocket
launchers carrying seven 2.75-inch
Folding Fin Aerial Rockets (FFARs)
and two door~mounted M60 MGs. Addi-
tionally, the HH-lKs are specially
painted to minimize infrared weapons
detection and carry the ALE-39 or ALQ-
144 countermeasures system. Current¬
ly, all squadron crews are undergoing
intensive training in use of Night Vision
Goggles (NVG) that allow them to navi-

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gate and fly nap-of-the-earth missions
in the dead of night.

Besides providing day-night insert/
extract for SEAL personnel with whom
they constantly train, HAL-4 and -5
crews also provide aerial recon, naval
gunfire spotting, passenger/cargo
transport, land-and-water rescue, for¬
ward air control and overhead convoy
escort capabilities. Squadrons can
operate as self-supporting detachments
from unprepared, unlighted LZs and
aviation or non-aviation ships. With
their close cooperation with the SEALs,
HAL crews make up the second half of a
team that is always ready to handle a
special warfare situation.

Navy special units are stationed
around the world in areas where they
can do the most good. Those in the
Asian/Pacific theater, Naval Special
Warfare Unit One (NSWU-1), are based
in the Republic of the Philippines and
conduct regular and ongoing combined
training with counterpart units from
Taiwan and the Republic of Korea while
handling any other missions assigned it
by CINCLANT. Located at RAF
Machrihanish, Scotland, NSWU-2 is
the only Naval Special Warfare Com¬
mand in Europe. As such, it is tasked
with providing logistical and operation¬
al support for SEAL and Special Boat
Units deployed to the theater. NSWU-2
coordinates training and exercises with

European units such as Britain's SBS,
France’s Commando Hubert , Ger¬
many’s Kampfschwimmers, Norway’s
Marine Commandos and Danish Navy
Fremandskorpsl UDTs. Its 20 or so per¬
sonnel can plan and conduct the full
range of Navy specwar operations.
NSWU-2’s primary exercise obligation
entails planning and conducting the
Navy portion of the annual European
Command (EUCOM) Flintlock com¬
bined-ops exercises. And though rela¬
tively small, the unit has its own Seafox
specwar craft, while a nearby 10,000-
foot runway comes in handy for any
pressing airlift requirements. So none
will mistake NSWU-2’s operational
methods, it has adopted the Latin mot¬
to Scindite Jugula Eorum! (Rip Their
Throats Out!)

SEAL Mobile Training Teams (MTT),
manned by personnel from all teams
serving on a rotational basis, regularly
deploy to Israel, the Middle East and
elsewhere as needed while still others
sail with Navy Task Forces such as the
Mediterranean Amphibious Ready
Group (MARG) on their annual sea
tours.

Closer to home, SEAL personnel
head south for MTT duty to Central and
South America, continuing a tradition
begun in 1966 when a small detach¬
ment went to Colombia to train that
country’s Comandos Anfibios in spec-

war techniques. Others have trained
personnel from the navies of Bolivia
and Peru.

In 1985, American’s attention has
been focused on Central America—the
security and strategic priorities dictated
by the spread of Marxist insurgencies.
In response, SEAL MTTs have been
going to El Salvador to train selected
naval personnel in coastal/riverine in¬
terdiction and counterinsurgency/spe¬
cial warfare tactics — all aimed at
stemming the flow of arms and muni¬
tions being shipped to Marxist rebels in
El Salvador by Nicaragua across the
Gulf of Fonseca from the ports of Corin-
to and Morazan. SEALs have been
working primarily out of the Salvador¬
an naval base at San Miguel and have
been successful in their efforts to train
Salvadoran Navy crews.

Counterterrorism (CT) can also be
added as a facet of the SEAL mission.
Though kept low-profile, SEALs have
developed a CT capability. Back in
1978 the first SEAL counterterrorist
platoon was formed at NAS Coronado.
Later, SpecWarGru Two followed suit
with the establishment of SEAL Team
Six. On paper, ST-6 is just a “regular”
Team, but the fact is (and it’s no secret
anymore), ST-6’s mission is CT. ST-6 is
a bit different than its relatives, though.
It does not come under CINCLANT
command and control but rather is
under Commander-in-Chief of the Joint
Chiefs of StafEDepartment of Defense
(JCS/DOD). Its operational assets in¬
clude the specially fitted nuclear subs
Sam Houston and John Marshall

U.S. Navy SEAL Teams have come a
long way since their secret 1 January
1962 formation. They use the very
latest in gear, weaponry, communica¬
tions, sea- and air-support craft. But
however advanced and state-of-the-art
SEALs necessarily become, they will re¬
main rooted in their amphibious war¬
rior tradition. Training is the reason for
their success. ^

SINGAPORE SYSTEM

Continued from page 35

I really like the 520-rpm cyclic rate. An
experienced operator can tick off single
rounds, three-shot bursts or longer sequenc¬
es any time he wants. I fired from the prone
position with the bipod, sitting, kneeling,
standing and from the John Wayne position
(hip assault). From the prone position, the
bipod’s lateral maneuverability consider¬
ably enhances the acquisition of flanking
targets. The trigger pull weight appears to
be over 12 pounds. Nothing unusual here
for machine guns. The ejection path is to the
right and rear, about 45 degrees downward
and about six feet from the gun.

The bottom line is that in its present con-

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CERTIFIED FUNDS, Cashiers Checks, Money Orders — same day shipping; Personal Checks will be held 30 days for clearance. All items
postage paid Continental U.S. All others add shipping. SORRY NO SHIPMENTS TO CANADA. Void Where Prohibited By Law.

Money Orders, Cashier Checks, Shipped Same Day All items post paid, continental U.S. only

Personal Checks Will be Held for 30 Days Catalogs SI.00 All others add shipping

88 SOLDIER OF FORTUNE

OCTOBER 85

figuration the Ultiraax 100 falls just short.

To its credit, however, CIS already has
stated its intention to implement modifica¬
tion suggestions from combat-experienced
users. A concentrated effort aimed at such
changes is necessary before the Ultimax 100
is ready for the front lines in its class. Some
of my criticisms are being addressed.

There is great potential here — and at an
attractive price.

SAR 80 Assault Rifle

Chartered Industries of Singapore’s entry
into the assault-rifle market is far more con¬
ventional in both concept and execution.
Developed with an eye to cost effective¬
ness, extensive use has been made of
stamped-sheet-metal pressings, investment
castings and standard small components,
such as rivets, pins and springs.

Under license from Colt in 1971, CIS began
production of the M16 rifle to meet the needs
of the Singapore Aimed Forces. ClS began
development of their own 5.56mm rifle by the
mid-1970s, aiming for self-sufficiency and
worldwide marketability.

About the same time. Sterling Armament
Company, Ltd. in Dagenham, Essex, Eng¬
land — makers of the famous submachine-
gun series (See “Sterling Investment,”
SOF, June ’83) — developed an assault-
rifle prototype under the auspices of their
chief designer, Frank Waters (See “Sterling
Gold,” SOF, October ’83). It was aban¬

doned in 1974, when Sterling reached an
agreement with Armalite to produce the
AR-18 with existing Armalite tooling.

Sterling’s assault-rifle package was sent
to CIS in 1977 for assessment. After testing
and modifications, CIS purchased the
manufacturing and marketing rights to the
SAR (which then stood for “Sterling
Assault Rifle”). After additional changes,
an initial lot of 1,000 SARs (now the “Sing¬
apore Assault Rifle”) were delivered to the
Singapore Armed Forces in late 1980. Con¬
tinued refinements to the second and third
batches of 1,000 rifles each resulted in what
is now called the SAR 80.

The SAR 80 is gas operated. Its short-
stroke piston-action gas system, located
above the barrel, is based in general on the
system employed by the AR-18. The gas
cylinder/regulator is like a hollow spigot.
Fitted into the cylinder, after the short pis¬
ton has moved rearward no more than half
an inch, a series of holes in the cylinder is
exposed and gas.is evacuated. The piston
and its extension are separate components.
The piston extension is connected to a push
rod which impinges directly upon the face
of the bolt carrier. There is an adjustable gas
regulator with four positions, 0 to 3. It’s
slotted and can be turned either with a tool
or by hand. The cut-off position for firing
rifle grenades is 0. The normal operating
position is number 2.

There are two recoil springs and guide
rods which fit into twin channels on top of
the bolt carrier. The bolt carrier contains a
removable inertial rod which acts as an anti¬
bounce device to inhibit firing out of bat¬
tery. Using the extractor as one of the lock¬
ing lugs, the eight-lug rotary bolt rotates by
means of a cam pin projecting out of a cam
path cut into the bolt carrier. Primary ex¬
traction takes place during the bolt’s initial
unlocking from the barrel extension.

A so-called bump-type spring-loaded
ejector is employed. The spring-loaded fir¬
ing pin has a separate retaining ring. Pro¬
truding from its channel and the ejection
port on the right side of the receiver, just far
enough to catch on every tree limb and
snake in the bush, is the one-inch-long re¬
tracting handle. It should be angled upward
so it can be more easily reached by the left
hand. Held in place by the receiver wall, it
can be removed only after the recoil springs
and their guide rods have been withdrawn.

The stamped-sheet-metal upper receiver
body has a more rectangular shape than its
square-tubed AR-18 predecessor. It has
been fitted with a strange, manually oper¬
ated, sliding dust cover which protects only
the retracting handle’s rear slot. It does not
cover the ejection port. The upper and lower
receivers have been covered with an ex¬
tremely durable wrinkle-paint finish over
phosphate — in the Sterling manner. Excel-

a little jo the

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OCTOBER 85

SOMMER OF FORTUNE 89

230,000 SALVADORANS HAVE
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While REFUGEE RELIEF INTERNATIONAL, INC.
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President

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Attm Hr. Donald

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lent for tropical environments, it is never¬
theless unpopular in the U.S.

The trigger mechanism is part of the low¬
er-receiver group, which is held to the upper
receiver by two H&K-type pins. The rear
pin was quite loose on the specimen I ex¬
amined. These pins should always be in¬
serted from the left side. The hammer is
controlled not only by the selector lever but
an auto safety sear. The safety sear is timed
to permit release of the hammer only after
the bolt is in complete battery. In the unlike¬
ly event of mechanical failure, the hammer
will strike the rear of the carrier, dissipating
its energy in pushing the carrier forward
without firing. The SAR 80 fires from the
closed-bolt position.

The selector lever is like that on the M16,
but I found the SAR 80’s to be a bit stiff.
The firing positions are ergonomically cor¬
rect. Rotate the selector lever downward,
into the vertical position, for semiautomatic
fire. Continued rotation in a clockwise
direction will bring the selector around to
the full-auto position. At present, there is no
provision for the three-shot-burst mode.

The magazine catch-release button, lo¬
cated on the lower receiver’s right side, has
been taken from the Ultimax 100. It has
been shielded, in the manner of the U.S.
M3A1 submachine gun, to prevent
accidental release of the magazines. Empty
magazines fell freely away on one SAR 801
fired, but not at all on another. There is a
hold-open feature, but no release latch
(there is none on the AR-18 either). If the
bolt is rearward after a new magazine is
inserted, the cocking handle must be re¬
tracted slightly and then released smartly to
chamber a round.

The trigger is wide and smooth with a pull
weight of about eight pounds. Single-stage
and without slack, it’s very crisp with no
trace of creep. The trigger guard, a sheet-
metal pressing, is welded to the lower re¬
ceiver and cannot be removed for arctic use.
The black plastic pistol grip is in the AR-18
configuration. Checkering has been added
and the rear sling swivel relocated to the
buttstock. Comfortable and providing the
proper grip-to-frame angle, the pistol grip
lacks only a storage compartment and finger
swell.

The black plastic buttstock is also
attached to the lower receiver. It has a rub¬
ber recoil pad, but no storage trap. The
rear sling swivel is mounted to the bottom
of the buttstock. It rotates 180 degrees, up
and down only, and is quite noisy. A folding
buttstock of the FN FAL type has been de¬
signed, but it is not in production.

Barrel length is 18.1 inches, which yields
an overall length of 38.2 inches. The empty
weight is slightly heavy at 7.5 pounds. The
six-groove barrel has a right-hand twist of
one turn in 12 inches for Ml 93 ammunition.
It is not chrome-lined. The front-sight pro¬
tective ears are integral with the gas block
and bayonet lug. The round front-sight post
is of the M16 type and adjustable for eleva¬
tion zero only. The barrel is fitted with an
M16Al-type bird-cage flash suppressor.

The front sling swivel is located forward of
the gas system. It rotates 360 degrees and is
real noisy. The nylon-base, black plastic
handguards are both provided with alumi¬
num heat shields, but they still managed to
overheat to the point of discomfort during
my firing test. Only the upper handguard
can be removed. Two spring-loaded rods fit
into holes in the upper receiver. It can be
disassembled with ease.

The rear sight’s protective ears are
welded to the upper receiver body. The flip-
type peep aperture rear sight has been taken
from the Ml6. Windage adjustments are
made with a drum on the right side which
can be turned after a detent has been de¬
pressed with the nose of a bullet. Each posi¬
tion on the drum moves the mean point of
impact by 2.5 cm at 100 meters. The sight
radius is 20.4 inches. Optical sight mounts
have been standard on the SAR 80 since
September 1984.

Field-stripping the SAR 80 follows a
straightforward sequence. After removing
the magazine and clearing the rifle, remove
the front and rear take-down pins. They’re
not captive, so be careful you don’t mis¬
place them. After inspection and cleaning,
set the lower receiver group aside. Depress
the guide-rod block’s spring-loaded detent
and withdraw the guide-rod assembly from
the upper receiver body. Slide the bolt
group to the rear and pull out the retracting
handle. The bolt group will then drop out
the rear of the upper receiver.

Depress the Bring pin and remove its
locking pin. Remove the inertia rod and
retainer. Remove the cam pin and pull the
bolt away from the carrier. Push the upper
handguard rearward and tilt it away from the
rifle to disassemble. Push the piston exten¬
sion backward, tilt out and then forward
again to remove. Pull the gas cylinder away
from the gas block and remove the piston.

Reassemble in the reverse order, making
sure the small end of the firing-pin spring is
inserted first and grips the firing-pin shoulder.

At the beginning of my 500-round firing
test, I had one light hit which failed to ignite
the primer. After I moved the gas regulator
from the number 1 to number 2 position,
there were no further stoppages. Highly
accurate, the rifle is capable of excellent hit
probability. With a cyclic rate of about 700
rpm, the rifle is easily controlled during
full-auto fire sequences.

Experienced personnel will have no
trouble in mastering the fire discipline re¬
quired to produce consistent two- or three-
shot bursts. After 500 rounds the gas system
had produced only minimal fouling on the
bolt. The ejection path is to the right and
rearward about six feet from the rifle. The
SAR 80 seems to be acceptably reliable and,
at 8.5 pounds fully loaded, should certainly
prove to be robust enough.

My major criticism of this system is the
use of the wretched M16 magazine, which
though ubiquitous, continually induces
1 'bolt-over-base” stoppages in all weapons
designed to accept it.

The SAR 80 sells for one-third less than

90 SOLIUEIt OF FORTUNE

OCTOBER 85

the cost of an M16 and almost two-thirds
less than some European 5.56mm assault
rifles. This should prove appealing to coun¬
tries not propped up by Uncle Sugar. The
Singapore weapons have great promise —
provided they are modified somewhat to
meet the realities of the killing field. ^

BROWNWATER NAVY

Continued from page 37

was an old dead tree. I looked at it and didn’t
see anything out of the ordinary. When I
turned away, two rounds went by the back
of my head. I didn’t know I’d been shot at.

The craftmaster ran out of the control
room and knocked me down. I started to yell
at him and two more rounds hit the side of
the control room. The craftmaster grabbed
the M79 and I got to the .50. Between the
two of us. I’m sure we got them. There
wasn’t even much left of the tree.

When we got to Dong Ha, I took the mail
ashore while they off-loaded the boat.
When I got back to the boat ramp two snip¬
ers opened up on us from across the river.
One sniper was spotted in a cemetery and
the other one was in a tree near the river
bank. We fired up the tree with our Ml6s
and the craftmaster started dropping M79
rounds into the cemetery.

We winged the one in the tree, but he was
up and running as soon as he hit the ground.
He must have taken a dozen hits before he
finally fell.

The craftmaster said he’d gotten the one
in the cemetery ... or he thought that he
had. When the shooting stopped, a Marine
from the ramp and I ran across the bridge to
check the cemetery. As we came closer to
the cemetery, our run slowed to a walk.
What if he wasn’t dead? What if he fired at
us?

But my big question was, “What the hell
am I doing this for? . .. I’m not a Marine!”

We’d last seen the sniper just 50 yards
ahead us. I’d cover the Marine as he moved
in, then he’d do the same for me. I looked
back at the boat and could see the rest of the
crew standing with their rifles ready to help.
The world had stopped as far as I was con¬
cerned. My heart was in my throat and its
staccato beat was deafening. With eyes
glued to the tombstone where I was sure he
lay, I moved on. A glance to the left to
check on the Marine and then back to the
tombstone.

I froze.

Charlie was up and firing at me. The
muzzle flashes were hot and blinding, yet I
felt so cold. It seemed to take forever, but I
finally managed to return fire. It was like a
volleyball game, he fired, I fired, he fired, I
fired. My serve — I emptied the rest of the
magazine into him. The rifle slipped from
his hands and he just fell over. With all that
I’d been told about the M16 I figured there
would be pieces of him all over the place,
but he just fell down.

It sure wasn’t like playing Army as a kid.
We use to shoot each other for hours. There
was always a lot of screaming and yelling.
After getting shot, it was mandatory that
you writhe around on the ground.

I put the muzzle of my rifle against the
base of the sniper’s skull. The Marine
stepped up beside me as I rolled the body
over. When the body came to rest, my eyes
riveted on his face. Part of his cheek was
gone, along with his nose and right eye. The
rest of his face was a mixture of dirt and
blood. His lips were pulled back and his
teeth were clenched. Just as I was feeling
sorry for him, the Marine showed me the
U.S. Government M1 carbine the gook had
used on us. He was wearing a Timex watch
and sporting a new pair of U.S.-made tennis
shoes. So much for feeling sorry for him.

The female stevedores finished the off¬
loading as if nothing had happened and we
headed back to Da Nang, staying the cus¬
tomary three miles off the coastline. All was
dark and peaceful. The only noise was the
drone of the engines and the waves brushing
the bow of the boat.

I was on watch with the chief engineer in
the control room. An hour out of Da Nang,
we passed by a firefight on the shore. Red
and green tracers flowed like a waterfall.
Helicopter gunships screamed in and added
even more color to the picture. That three-
mile safety margin felt good.

Our destination finally loomed ahead, but
as we pulled in, there was nothing but a
darkened causeway to greet us. It was good
to be home, though. Since my watch was to
end as soon as we landed, I was ready for a
good night’s sleep. But the Operations
Office had something else in mind for us.

Harbor security called us on the radio and
told us that we had a load to pick up at the
bridge on the Song Han river. The bridge
connected east and west Da Nang. Orders
are orders — we turned and started up the
river. The craftmaster told me that the
bridge ramp was where the Navy LSTs
made their deliveries. The only load he’d
ever picked up at the bridge turned out to be
beer and a couple hundred pairs of para¬
trooper jump boots.

Oh, be still, my heart. With that kind of a
load we could trade for a whole new boat
and an all-female crew — topless. Para¬
trooper boots were good as gold and I
prayed for them to be waiting on the deck
for us. And I continued to pray until the
bridge came into sight and I could see two
LSTs moored at the ramp. The area was lit
with searchlights and the forklifts were busy
unloading the two ships. As the craftmaster
slowed to make the turn toward the ramp,
the first rocket hit.

It landed near the bridge, sending every¬
one running. The craftmaster rammed our
boat into a sharp turn and got the hell away
from the ramp. I sounded the Red Alert and
the crew went to battle stations. I couldn’t
believe the shock wave the rockets made.
After a hit a half-mile away, the pressure of
the blast would roll over the boat a split
second later. It almost took your breath

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away. The light flash from the explosion
was a brilliant white light, or red, or orange.
The colors changed every time something
different was hit. I wondered what color a
riverboat would give off.

Harbor Security called and said that they
thought the rockets were coming from the
east side of the river just ahead of us. They
told us to stick to the east bank and try to
locate the enemy’s position and notify
them. My .50 was on the wrong side of the
boat to be used so I grabbed my Ml6 and
headed for the welldeck. The craftmaster
put us about twenty yards from shore and
slowed the boat. Talk about sitting duck
tactics ... but it worked. We started taking
small-arms fire from the darkness.

Everybody on the boat opened up. The
craftmaster radioed that we had made con¬
tact and he requested ground forces and
gunships. Several rockets landed in the river
near the boat, giving us the ride of our lives.
The boat pitched from one side to the other
and the river water pelted the boat like rain.
I k €pt firing into the darkness until I saw a
winking muzzle flash and drew a bead. It
wasn’t long until my ammo was gone so I
dashed back to the ammo locker. That’s
when the deck came up and hit me in the
face. A rocket blast had brought the stem
section of the boat out of the water.

I got to my knees, refilled my lungs and
went to the control room. Harbor Security
radioed that they had ground forces moving
into the area and wanted us to clear out. The
craftmaster kicked the boat in the ass and
headed for the causeway.

It just goes to show you. You may think
that missing a stint with a frontline infantry
unit would be cause for some type of
celebration. If you do, think again. I’d only
been in-country for three days and already I
had seen enough action to last a lifetime.

My remaining months in Vietnam were
not quite as hairy. I spent them faithfully
carrying out my division’s motto — “They
Shall Not Want.’’ ^

RANDALL KNIVES

Continued from page 59

knives and found them wanting, so they
were now in Orlando to see Bo about hand¬
making the first knives to be taken into
space. After the factory offerings had been
rejected, Scott Carpenter suggested that Bo
be contacted. Scott was a deer hunter of
long standing and had his own Randall
Made Model #3 hunting knife. After look¬
ing over Carpenter’s prize hunting knife
Cooper and Grissom decided to make a
short flight down to Orlando.

The requirements they presented sounded
pretty tough to combine into one relatively
small knife. First, it could be no more than
10 inches in overall length. Second, and
most important, it had to be very strong —
strong enough to pry a hatch if it were
jammed shut. If that prying didn’t work, the

knife had to be able to cut, rip and smash
through aluminum sheet, electric wires and/
or electronic components to get them out of
a space capsule damaged upon landing. Af¬
ter all of this work the knife they wanted
must be sharp enough to cut away then-
heavy space suits. To top it all off they
wanted a cavity in the handle in which a few
small survival items could be stowed. No
wonder the factory models had been re¬
jected.

With respect to these basic requirements
of size and strength Bo was far ahead of any
other knife maker because he had been mak¬
ing the Model 15 Airman’s knife for the
previous five years. He immediately
brought one out for Cooper and Grissom to
examine. This was a pleasant surprise to
them for they saw at once that here was the
basis for their astronauts’ special knife. The
three of them began to discuss the modifica¬
tions necessary to turn the Randall Airman’s
knife into the first knife to be carried into
space.

To start with, the top edge must drop
down from the spine to the point — like a
drop-point hunting knife — and be made
butterknife dull. This was needed so that if
one of the men had to cut himself out of his
spacesuit he could do so without injuring
himself. Second, the guard, or hilt, must be
made longer so that there was no possibility
of a hand slipping over it while using the
knife with pressurized gloves on. A cut
pressure suit in space could really screw up
a man’s whole day. At the same time it was
requested that the guard be made of stainless
steel for added strength. Next, the tang was
to be made wider with a cavity cut into it in
the shape of a rectangular hole. The handle
was then to be finished off with two side
pieces — called scales by knife buffs —
attached to the tang with screws. The inside
of each scale was also to be hollowed out for
extra storage capacity. The handle would be
drilled near the butt for a wrist thong. To get
the handle scales off for storing survival
items in the cavity a key-style screwdriver
was threaded on the wrist thong.

Sketches and notes were made at this
brainstorming session. By the time they quit
the three men knew that they had just de¬
signed the perfect knife to carry into space
aboard a Project Mercury space capsule.
The two astronauts went back to Langley
AFB and Bo went to his shop.

Starting with existing Model 15 blades,
the sparks flew at grinding wheels and files
were given a real workout as Bo and a
craftsman or two sought the proper com¬
bination of modifications necessary to ful¬
fill these requirements. They sure didn’t let
any grass grow under their feet because,
according to a note in the old Randall files,
on 14 January 1960 one “Astro #15 knife
with match insert, Lucite handle, no
sheath’’ was sent to Maj. Gordon Cooper,
NASA Space Task Group, Langley AFB,
Virginia,

On 1 February 1960 M. Scott Carpenter
sent an official letter to Bo thanking him for
“the first copy of the knife you thought up

92 SOLDIER OF FORTUNE

OCTOBER 35

for us.” He wanted a sheath for this first
knife, asking that it be a typical Randall-
style sheath, with an outside pocket for a
sharpening stone. The prototype needed
some minor refinements and this became a
good reason for Cooper and Grissom to
make a number of flights to Orlando. In the
process of design improvement these three
men became good friends, and this
friendship with Bo Randall extended to
other members of the original seven.

On 28 June 1960 Bo sent a package to
Capt. Gordon Cooper, NASA facility,
Langley Field, Virginia. It contained a
three-page letter, seven Astro knives with
sheaths and names etched; two extra Astro
knives and one Astro Doctor’s Knife with a
hook in the handle, plus some IXL scout
knives, hones and 3 /4-inch compasses. Each
astronaut had his own personal knife with
his name on it, plus a top-quality pocket
knife. The doctor’s knife was for Project
Mercury sawbones Dr. Bill Douglas, and
one of the extra Astros was for Shorty Pow¬
ers. No bill for these knives was ever sent to
NASA. This package and all the preceding
efforts were Bo’s personal contribution to
America’s man-in-space program. The
‘“original seven” were truly appreciative
as evidenced by letters in the old files.

Naturally, these first Astro knives be¬
came the proud possessions of the recipients
and the design was accepted as the official
Project Mercury knife. Starting with an
order for 20 knives dated 6 July 1960,
NASA purchased a total of 60 Randall
Made Astro knives. It was a good thing that
NASA did order these knives, too — it
allowed the astronauts to choose which
knife they took on their mission. They could
use their own personal knife with their name
on it, or a NASA one. A1 Shepard decided to
take a NASA knife with him in Freedom 7
and it went into 10,000 feet of water when
his mechanical hatch dropped off the cap¬
sule while it was being lifted aboard ship by
a helicopter. Gus Grissom left his own Ran¬
dall Astro at home and another NASA knife
went to the bottom when the entire capsule
sank after his explosive hatch malfunc¬
tioned. To the best of the author’s informa¬
tion, all of the original seven still have their
own knives, except for one special case.

One day while Bo was working in his
yard, L. Gordon Cooper drove up. He had
recently set a space record with 23 orbits of
this planet. The two men talked for a few
minutes and then Cooper reached into a
jacket pocket and brought out his Astro
knife. He handed it to Bo and told him that
he had taken this knife on his 23-orbit flight.
He explained that because Bo had done so
much for him and his fellow astronauts he
wished him to have this one back as a per¬
sonal thank you. Bo has said that as he stood
there holding Cooper’s knife, and looking at
his smiling face, he almost wept. Of all the
knives in his collection, this is the knife as
far as Bo is concerned. It is kept in its own
glass case in a place of high honor. And L.
Gordon Cooper Jr. paid tribute to his feeling
for the knife in a chapter of We Seven , the

book written by the Project Mercury astro¬
nauts themselves. This chapter is titled
simply “A Sharp Knife.”

Long before time was recorded, through
now and into the future, knives have been,
and will continue to be, a necessity to the
adventurous. When that necessity was pre¬
sented by American fighting men, W.D.
“Bo” Randall Jr. always rose to the chal¬
lenge, and his knives never let them down.
He has the letters to prove it.

BATTLE BLADES

Continued from page 16
just won’t have.

At .178 inches, the thickest part of
this tapered, springy blade is thinner
than ordinary 3/16 bar stock. I’ve seen
garbage cans made of heavier sheet
Then, to top it off, the blade carries the
lightening fullers — misnamed “blood
grooves'’ — that not only don’t drain
blood, they make an already-thin
blade even thinner. Between the
depths of the grooves, the Raider
Bowie is. 135-inch thick. Some pocket
knives have thicker blades.

Compared to other fighting knives
of WWII, the Raider Bowie stands up
pretty well. But compared to what a
battle blade should be, it’s a bad de-

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OCTOBER 85

SOLDIER OF FORTUNE 93

sign. The high point and deep belly
prevent effective thrusting. Its light
blade denies the user power in a chop.
And as the bent point on this specimen
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take the torque and leverage that can
be easily applied to a knife this long.

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through Pacific jungles with a K-BAR
at my belt, I’d have envied the Marine
with a Carlson’s Raider Bowie. x

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COMMAND

GUIDANCE

Continued from page 2

train good soldiers. All he can hope
to make by encouraging unrealistic
ideas of his services is bad press,
unnecessarily restrictive legisla¬
tion, and — as Morris already said
— corpses.

So what Is Pat Schroeder going to
do about this? She’s going to shut
down the mercenary schools.

Well, then, what is a mercenary
school? Just like “mercenary,”
that requires careful definition.
And if the witch-hunt doesn’t write
careful definitions and watch itself,
the pursuers of “mercenary train¬
ers” are going to find themselves
treading on the Constitution ...
again.

What to do? That’s easily
answered.

Let qualified professionals suc¬
ceed and let amateurs fall. Cooper
has more student applications than
he can handle. So-called merce¬
nary schools have gone up and
come down like parachute flares
over the last 10 years. Free enter¬
prise will take care of everyone
according to his deserts.

And what would be the benefit of
an investigation? More publicity for
irresponsible imitations of Ranger
School. Creating a black market
for “secret training” they now pro¬
vide publicly. Giving mercenary
schools a new lease on life just as
most of them were going belly-up.

So if it’s impractical to hound
paramilitary schools, how are we
going to counter their potential for
changing used-car salesmen into
terrorists? ... What potential? Out
of the thousands of international
crimes against peace committed
since World War II, how many have
involved graduates of any “merce¬
nary” school? One ... maybe. And

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did they learn their techniques
from that “mercenary” school?
Most certainly not.

Thus, Is It reasonable to assume
that an Investigation of these
camouflaged group-therapy ses¬
sions will do nothing more than
create reams of free false advertis¬
ing, waste taxpayers’ money and
have no effect on the incidence of
terrorism?

Of course. ^

AIR APACHES

Continued from page 45

Apaches dispatched 24 strafers from all four
squadrons to intercept it. The planes checked
out the Pescadores Islands en route, then pro¬
ceeded to the coast of China near the city of
Amoy. The weather had cleared somewhat
but visibility was still poor with haze lying
over the sea as Captain George Musket led the
501st Squadron and the Group into the search
zone. They turned southeastward past
Quemoy Island and began searching along the
rugged, island-dotted coastline.

Just after 11:30, Musket spotted two frig¬
ates steaming north-northeast at almost the
exact spot that intelligence had predicted.
While the six planes passed to their star¬
board, the two ships made a right turn and
lined up almost perfectly so that the B-25s
could strike both in a single attack run.
Musket, flying #572, led his two wingmen,
2nd Lieutenants Richard C. Lathrop and
James N. Harrah, across the first warship
with their nose guns blazing. Bombs
splashed into the water all around it but no
hits were scored. The three planes headed
for the second ship, leaving small fires
burning on the aft superstructure of the first
ship from their strafing.

After lashing the second ship with a fusil¬
lade from the nose guns, Musket skipped a
bomb off the water and onto the deck where
it exploded, wrecking the deck housing,
destroying the funnel and killing about a
dozen Japanese sailors who were crouched
behind the superstructure.

Lieutenant Ollie Hatcher, leading the
501 st’s second flight in #571, turned wide
of the first flight to open up more distance
between the attack runs, then sped toward
the first frigate with his wingmen on either
side. Nine bombs splashed into the water
around the ship and one of Hatcher’s bombs
exploded along the stem, opening up a large
hole in the side. The warship came to a stop
and diesel oil began pouring from her rup¬
tured seams.

The 499th Squadron, coming up next,
also turned wide, then split into two three-
plane flights. Captain Newton E. Wiley,
flying My Duchess , rolled out of his turn
and headed for the first frigate which was
dead in the water,, Both Wiley and 2nd
Lieutenant Theodore C. Bronson scored
near misses on the already doomed vessel.

94 SOMMER OF FORTUNE

OCTOBER 85

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Within three minutes the frigate rolled over
and sank.

Lieutenant Lester Morton led his flight
against the second ship. Two of his three
bombs went long, but the other one was a
direct hit amidships near the water line.
During the sharp turn to begin the attack,
2nd Lieutenant Louie A. Mikell, piloting
Ruthless Ruth , switched from Morton’s
right to his left wing, crowding out the other
wingman, Lieutenant Francis Thompson,
who didn’t drop any bombs. Mikell’s first
bomb was a near miss which probably dam¬
aged the stem.

In the aftermath of Morton’s attack, the
second frigate began taking water through a
huge hole in its starboard side. The 498th
Squadron raced in to attack but found only
sinking ships and scores of Japanese sailors
struggling in the water. One of the engines
on #005, piloted by 2nd Lieutenant Charles
E. Myers Jr., was shot out as he flew it over
Morton’s victim, which soon rolled onto its
side and sank. Myers salvoed his bombs and
set a course for Laoag Airdrome on the
northern tip of Luzon, about three hours’
flying time away. Shortly after leaving the
target he picked up Lt. Bronson of the 499th
as an escort.

The rest of the 498th Squadron proceeded
to strafe and bomb the Japanese survivors in
the water. As Captain Frederick F. Smith
passed over the second frigate in plane
#305, his automatic tail camera recorded

one of the most famous photographs to
come out of World War II. With bullets and
bombs splashing into the water around the
capsized ship, about 80 of its crewmen
could be seen clinging to its sinking hull or
swimming in the water around it. The Army
Air Forces’ classified intelligence magazine
IMPACT published the photograph under
the caption “The Air Picture of the Year.”

With the two frigates neatly disposed of,
the hunt for more targets was now on. It
seemed likely that more ships were
obscured in the low-lying haze and 1st
Lieutenant George R. Schmidt, bringing up
the rear with the 500th Squadron, swung
around the area where the two frigates were
sinking, then flew up the coastline a few
miles. Seeing nothing, he decided the two
frigates must have been ahead of the main
convoy and reversed the Squadron’s course
and continued searching southwestward at a
thousand feet, past the area of the earlier
encounter.

The gray sea was empty for the first ten
minutes. But suddenly, through the murk,
he glimpsed the dark shape of another ship
steaming on the same course as the two
warships. Through low broken clouds,
Schmidt led the six Rough Raiders down in
a diving left turn to pick up speed,
approaching for a three-quarters rear attack
on the target. This would be far safer than a
full broadside attack in the event the vessel
turned out to be heavily armed. Over the

intercom, Schmidt alerted his tail gunner,
Technical Sergeant Lee M. Brown, with the
order, “Get yours guns ready, Brownie!’’
Schmidt’s wingmen, Forward Observer
Van Scoyk and Lieutenant Joe Herick,
dropped a few yards behind and spaced
themselves about fifty feet off his wings. As
the unsuspecting B-25s raced at the gray
outline on the water, the sky ahead suddenly
filled with black explosions. Schmidt’s
worst fears came true — the ship steaming
through the haze ahead was not the mer¬
chantman, she was another warship.

Flying on Schmidt’s right wing in #193,
a plane borrowed from the 498th Squadron,
Van Scoyk saw the mass of gray sparkle
with flashes from bow to stem and a few
seconds later a solid curtain of flak seemed
to appear magically between him and the
target. Off Schmidt’s left wing, Lt. Herick
was so unnerved that he suddenly dipped his
plane, Seabiscuit, a few feet and passed
below the other two planes, coming back up
in formation 50 feet off Van Scoyk’s right
wing. The three strafers, with the second
flight of three in trail thirty seconds behind,
seemed to be flying directly into hell.

Schmidt bore in on the gray hulk through
a hail of tracers and exploding shells which
threw up large geysers in the water around
him. Seven hundred yards short of the
Japanese destroyer, Schmidt pressed the fir¬
ing button for the nose guns, squirting out a
couple of bursts to find the range. Dead on,
he held the button down and began walking
the rudder pedals, slewing the plane from
side to side to rake his tracers across the
target.

An instant later a 20mm tracer shell
smashed through the windshield on the co¬
pilot’s side and exploded, splattering hot
metal and burning phosphorus inside the
cockpit. Schmidt felt a stinging sensation on
his face and neck but kept his attention on
releasing his first bomb, a 500-pounder with
a four-second delay fuse. It skipped once
and exploded in the water short of the ship.
A second bomb was a direct hit on the aft
section and a third exploded in the water
directly alongside the ship, opening up the
seams.

Van Scoyk, following off his leader’s
right wing, released two bombs which ex¬
ploded harmlessly in the water. Herick,
meanwhile, had taken a direct hit by a
40mm round through the windshield.
Sergeant Brown, from the tail of Schmidt’s
aircraft, saw the flash of the explosion in¬
side the cockpit and watched as a bomb fell
away from Herick’s plane. The nose dipped
and the plane winged over and smashed
inverted into the water a couple of hundred
yards from the Japanese ship. All aboard
must have died instantly.

The attack by the following flight was
ineffective, but 2nd Lieutenant Samuel W.
Bennett’s photos showed the devastation
caused by Schmidt’s bombs on the aft sec¬
tion of the ship, which was beginning to
bum.

As the 500th Squadron pulled away from
the target, Schmidt’s crew began to look to

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96 SOLIHEIl OF FORTUNE

OCTOBER 85

their wounds. Schmidt himself had small
splinters of shrapnel imbedded in his face
and neck. His co-piiot, 2nd Lieutenant Rog¬
er H. Lexall, had similar injuries to his left
arm. Forward Observer Neal Ryan, now the
squadron navigator with well over 100 mis¬
sions to his credit, called Sergeant Myron
Mauldin, the turret gunner, over the inter¬
com, “Hey, can you get some of this hot
iron out’a me?” Mauldin’s reply broke the
tension, “To hell with you! Come pick it
out of my ass!”

One of the pilots in the second flight had
forgotten to open his bomb bay doors in all
the excitement and Schmidt tried to get him
to make another attack. But the crews were
reluctant to run the gauntlet of flak again
and he finally led them out of the area.

The 498th Squadron, meanwhile, was
flying south down the coast in loose forma¬
tion drawn by the radio chatter from the
500th Squadron planes. Lieutenant James
Manners began to feel uneasy when he
looked to his right and noticed activity on a
Japanese airfield which was only a couple of
miles inland.

The Japanese destroyer came into view
within minutes, still heading north under a
full head of steam despite Schmidt’s attack.
At this point. Manners decided to pull off
Captain Albin V. Johnson’s wing because
the Squadron Leader was adjusting his
throttle settings so frequently that it was
hard to stay in good formation. Manners
tacked onto Captain Smith as they
approached the destroyer, which in the
meantime had swerved to the northwest and
was laying a dense screen of smoke from its
stack.

Seeing the smokescreen. Manners called
Johnson on the radio, “Let’s go in from the
stem through the smokescreen.” Johnson
replied, “Okay, space yourself and follow
in at 15-second intervals after me.”

But to Manners’ surprise, as the forma¬
tion overtook the ship from behind and
slightly to the east, Johnson and his other
wingman, 2nd Lieutenant Robert G. Neal,
flew wide of the smoke, turned and headed
in for a broadside attack on the ship. As the
squadron leader went in, he called for
covering fire, saying that his nose guns
wouldn’t fire. The short-bowed destroyer
suddenly ceased making smoke and a hail of
flak rose to meet the advancing B-25s.

Capt. Smith and Lt. Manners turned left
to position themselves in the smoke as John¬
son, followed by Neal, crossed the warship
several hundred yards ahead of them.

One of Johnson’s two bombs exploded
directly on the stem of the ship. The flak
gunners also scored and Johnson’s crippled
plane pulled away from the target and began
a steep climb to a thousand feet with flames
trailing from the left nacelle and bomb bay.
It leveled off for about 15 seconds before
descending quickly to the water where it
ditched under full control in the rough seas
about two miles from the destroyer.

Second Lieutenant Richard L. Ranger,
Smith’s other wingman, got crowded out
but Capt. Smith and Lt. Manners followed

the track of the swerving destroyer and re¬
leased their bombs as they swept the length
of the warship from stem to bow, their
bombs exploding in the water around the
destroyer which was burning fiercely from
Johnson’s direct hit. The two strafers took
violent evasive actions for the next two
miles, then swung back to look for survivors
of the downed plane.

Johnson’s plane sank within seconds but
Smith reached the site just before it dis¬
appeared. The navigator, 2nd Lieutenant
Robert C. Ferris, saw the life raft deployed
and a man in the water behind the wing with
his Mae West inflated and surrounded by a
pool of yellow dye marker. The man waved
with both arms as the B-25 roared over.
When Manners flew over a few seconds
later, he saw only an oil slick and inflated'
life raft with flames licking around the
edges.

The Japanese destroyer was now dead in
the water with its guns silent and fires burn¬
ing on the deck. The 498th didn’t stay
around to watch its demise, however. As
Manners flew southward, then turned to
position himself for a strafing run on the
battered hulk, he spotted two Japanese
fighters 500 to 1,000 feet above him and
approaching from a distance of two miles. A
third fighter was flying just above the sur¬
face of the water off to the right.

Manners tried to warn his crew of the
enemy presence, but they had their head sets
switched to the interplane frequency and

couldn’t hear him. After sending his co-pilot,
2nd Lieutenant Robert W. Hawkes, back to
warn them, Manners broke radio silence to
warn the squadron of the danger. He then fired
two short bursts from his nose guns across the
path of one of the fighters to further alert the
other B-25s. One Japanese fighter later made a
firing pass on Lieutenant Kuta of the 501 st but
broke off at long range when the turret gunner
began firing.

Smith and Manners dropped to the wave
tops where they opened the throttles and
raced for home. Along the way they caught
up with Lt. Myers and his escort. The four
planes made it safely to Laoag, Luzon,
where they set down on the emergency strip
without a drop of gas to spare.

After the B-25s departed, the captain of
the destroyer Aniatsukazi ran his ship
aground in shallow water to keep it from
sinking. This was the same ship which was
probably responsible for shooting down Lt.
McGuire in Yulin Bay on 30 March. The
long journey back to Japan to be refitted
with a new bow would never be completed.
The crew abandoned ship and the Amatsu-
kazi was bombed to junk by Japanese planes
on 7 April.

It was the next day before 5th Air Force
could conduct a search for the survivor from
Capt. Johnson’s crew. There was no sign of
the missing man, but numerous Chinese
junks were seen in the area and it was
thought that he may have been picked up by
one ofthem. Chinese fishermen did, in fact,

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SOMHI'K Ol* rOllTUNE 97

find the navigator, 1st Lieutenant Robert T.
Snyder. His body was found on 21 April,
floating a few miles from the crash site near
the town of Tung Shan. His identification
and remains were eventually recovered by
American authorities.

Another body washed ashore on the
beach at the village of Ku-Lei and was
buried nearby and forgotten. In February of
1946, one of the villagers noticed a small
boy playing with a dog tag about a hundred
yards from where the body had washed
ashore ten months earlier. Investigating
further, he found it carried the name Albin
V. Johnson. Since a reward of 100,000
Chinese Nationalist Dollars was being
offered for information leading to the dis¬
covery of missing American personnel or
war dead, the incident quickly came to the
attention of local authorities. The body was
exhumed and taken to Tung Shan where it
was later turned over to an American recov¬
ery team.

Following the battle on 6 April, the
Japanese convoy route across the South
China Sea shut down and the 345th moved
to Clark Field and shifted its emphasis to the
destruction of industry and the transporta¬
tion system on Formosa, By June that island
had been isolated and its war-making capac¬
ity severely curtailed.

In late July, the 345th moved on to the
recently captured Ryukyu Islands where it
took up residence on Ie Shima, a tiny island
off the west coast of Okinawa. From there

the unit immediately clamped an aerial
blockade around the southern islands of
Japan, sweeping the seas for Japanese ship¬
ping and pounding inland targets on the
island of Kyushu.

When Japan announced its intention to
surrender in mid-August, the 345th Bomb
Group — the indomitable “Air Apaches,”
— was chosen to fly the escort mission for
the Japanese peace emissaries which Gener¬
al Douglas Mac Arthur summoned to Manila
to negotiate the subsequent surrender
aboard the U.S.S. Missouri in Tokyo Bay.

At the conclusion of hostilities, the 345th
had been credited with sinking 260 Japanese
ships totaling nearly 200,000 tons, as well
as destroying 260 enemy planes on the
ground and another 107 in aerial combat.
This was accomplished at the loss of 177
B-25s and just over 700 airmen dead from
all causes, including 580 killed on flights.
After the war, the 345th was deactivated,
and, after a five-year reactivation in the late
1950s was deactivated again, closing for¬
ever the history of one of the U.S. Air
Force’s most illustrious units.

The full story of the ‘ ‘Air Apaches ’ 9 can
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Warpath Across the Pacific, which is being
hailed by reviews around the world as the
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PUMP-GUN

TECHNIQUE

Continued from page 69

way, are the same ones which the
assault-firing position has over the
shouldered position — reduced
length, enhanced field of vision, and
better ability to maintain control of the
weapon. Contrary to popular belief,
the assault position offers very little, if
any, speed advantage over the
shouldered position for the shooter
who has practiced both, and the
increased accuracy provided by the
shouldered, sighted position dictates
that it should be preferred except
when conditions specifically require
the lower position.

The pump shotgun is designed to
be cycled hard and instantly upon
firing, without lowering the gun from
the cheek. Mastered, the pump can
actually be cycled and fired faster
than most semiautomatics will allow.

At the very least, the cycling time can
be reduced to the point where it is no
hindrance whatever to the speed with
which the shotgun can be fired
effectively, because the cycling of the
action takes place during the
weapon’s recoil.

Malfunctions

The better examples of pump^action
shotguns are remarkably reliable
weapons, a major reason for their
selection by police and military alike in
preference to existing semiautomatics.
In fact, two of the three most common
stoppages experienced with the
pump-gun are shooter malfunctions
rather than weapon malfunctions.
Regardless of which party is to blame,
the shooter must be able to reduce
the stoppage and get back in action
without delay.

Failure to pull the fore-end back
forcefully enough can result in the
short stroke or short shuck, the most
common malfunction of the
pump-action shotgun or, more
properly, of its user. The short stroke
usually results in the empty shell
being trapped in the ejection port,
while a new round has been released
from the magazine but cannot be

98 SOLDIER OI ? EOHTENE

OCTOBER 85

Speed-load by rolling the shell into the
empty chamber from underneath
receiver, then sliding forward to close
the action.

chambered. To clear this stoppage,
pull the slide fully to the rear, sweep
the trapped shell out of the ejection
port if it doesn’t fall out by itself (this
can usually be done with the left hand
while the right hand remains in firing
position), close the action, and fire.

Another possible stoppage is
caused by the shooter’s inability to
pull the slide rearward, due to an
oversized shell in the chamber, a
rough or dirty chamber or action, or
an action frozen in cold weather or
rusted shut. The expedient remedy is
to strike the buttplate of the shotgun
straight down hard onto the ground or
against any solid surface while pulling
rearward on the fore-end. If the action
is locked closed, the shooting hand
must also hold the action lock
depressed while performing this
maneuver. This is a drastic remedy,
and very hard on the shotgun, as it
can generate enough force to break
wooden stocks or bend action bars,
but in an emergency the possibility of
damaging the shotgun may be
preferable to the certainty of being
killed if you cannot get the shotgun
working again fast.

The least common pump-gun
stoppage is caused by the shooter’s
failure to push a shell being loaded
into the magazine far enough forward
to engage the shell stop, resulting in
the shell slipping back out of the
magazine tube to lodge inside the
receiver between the shell carrier
(lifter) and the underside of the
breechbolt. Some shotguns, notably
the S&W 3000 and the newer
production Remington 870s, have
sufficient internal clearance that the
action can be cycled right over the
trapped round without losing continuity
of fire. In many other models, the
action will be jammed tight. If the
buttstock-strike malfunction clearance
does not work, the trapped shell must
be pushed back into the magazine
tube by inserting a knife blade,
screwdriver, key, or similar object
along the side of the shell carrier to
press forward on the base of the
trapped shell. Some pump shotguns

are even manufactured, or
customized, to provide a slot in the
center of the shell carrier for this
purpose. Even so, the operation of
clearing a shell trapped in this position
is hardly suited to the heat of combat,
and a far preferable solution is to
learn to load the shotgun properly to
avoid the problem altogether.

Speed Reloading

A major problem with the
pump-action shotgun, especially for
military use, is that its last-century
design permits its tubular magazine to
be loaded only one round at a time.
Until the box-magazine-fed CAWS
(Close Assault Weapon System)
becomes a reality, the shooter’s ability
to keep his shotgun loaded will be a
skill worth practicing.

The pump-gun user should be
thinking “shoot one — load one.” In
other words, for every round fired, a
new round should be stoked into
the magazine at the earliest
opportunity. Spare ammo should be
carried where it will be easily
accessible to the weak hand, which
can stuff rounds into the loading port
while the strong hand maintains a
firing position. This can be done with
the gun still shouldered, or even at a
dead run if necessary. Care should be
taken to push the round fully into the
magazine so it engages the shell stop
and does not cause the stoppage
described above.

In the event that, through neglect or
necessity, the shooter fires more
shells than he reloads, the metallic
“click” of the firing pin falling on an
empty chamber will indicate that the
need to reload has become
imperative. The fastest way to get a
round chambered in most pump guns
(the bottom-ejecting models being the
exception) is to leave the action open
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and base being pressed between the
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Note that the shell does not need to
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simply rolled into the ejection port,
since the shell carrier will align the
shell with the chamber when the
action is closed.

Properly mastered, the pump-action
shotgun is a formidable weapon within
its limited effective range. But for the

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SOI/IHEIl OF FORTUNE 99

shooter who has not taken the time to
leam to use it properly, it may offer
only a false and dangerous sense of
security. The choice is yours. ^

ZIMBABWE

Continued from page 63

Falls or meandering through the spectacular
parks, Zimbabwe is unforgettable.

Since the transition to Mugabe’s popular¬
ly elected government, the country has
attempted to pull itself together. Unfortu¬
nately, in haste to run the country, ZANU
has purposefully or ignorantly ruined the
economy. Zimbabwe can be a strong na¬
tion, but it needs outside investment and
assistance. The United States cut its aid to
Zimbabwe by 50 percent last year and may
reduce it further in the face of Mugabe’s
desire to establish a one-party government.

It is hoped that this situation will change
for the better, soon. If not, Zimbabwe will
become another irreversibly crippled econ¬
omy. As a consequence of its incapacity to
compete and deal with Free World econo¬
mies, another government and country will
slip further into the Soviet orbit.

Author's name changed to protect friends
in Zimbabwe . ^

BIANCHI HOLSTER

Continued from page 65

others. The UM-84III has been designed
specifically for the Heckler & Koch P7/8/13
pistols.

The retail price of the UM-84 holster is
$38. The shoulder harness assembly is
available for another $18 and the hip ex¬
tender is priced at $9. Further information
can be obtained from Bianchi International,
Dept. SOF, 100 Calle Cortez, Temecula,
CA 92390.

The M12 holster is an impressive offering
and a ringing tribute to the free enterprise
system. It complements an equally impres¬
sive pistol. Big-bore fetishists really should
try to sleep more peacefully, comforted
with the knowledge that our opponents pa¬
rade through .the streets, from Moscow to
Managua, armed with pistols no more
powerful than the Makarov (9x18mm) or
the new (and even punier) PSM (chambered
for a bottleneck 5.45mm cartridge) — in
cracked and aging leather holsters. ^

IN REVIEW

Continued from page 26

touched upon in Young’s book,
however, but this is its sole flaw.
What Bocca and others should have

realized was the Legion’s tradition of
contemptuously and successfully de¬
fying political shifts and defeats in the
field to fight another day in another
war. The trend toward international
terrorism has shown the need for spe¬
cial shock troops to combat kidnap-
ings, assassinations, invasions, take¬
overs and hijackings, and while this
situation unexpectedly gave the Le¬
gion a new lease on life, the Legion can
also lay claim to being among the first
in the field in the annals of such troops.

As Erwan Bergot — the author of
the Legion history that appears at the
beginning of this study — points out,
the Legion Etrangere began in political
strife. The Orleanist monarch King
Louis-Philippe founded it in 1831,
partly to employ the ex-soldiers of all
nations involved in the Napoleonic
Wars that were then flooding into
France, and partly to have re<ady
troops to send to fight an unpopular
war in Algeria. Thus it was, in 1961,
that the Legion had turned full circle in
history.

In this well-written volume, the read¬
er will find chronicled all the engage¬
ments that made the Legion famous:
Constantine, Ischeriden, Magenta,
Coulmiers, Apka, the Dardanelles, Tiz-
routine, 3ir Hakeim against Rommel’s
Afrika Korps, and the most famous of
all — the Battle of Camerone in Mex¬
ico in 1863, where six Legion survivors
out of 65 men fixed bayonets and
charged into a 2,000-man Mexican
Army.

Readers of this book will be sur¬
prised to leam of some of the famous
men who served in the Legion: Amer¬
ican composer Cole Porter, author
Arthur Koestler, three French Princes,
two Bonapartes — even one of Benito
Mussolini’s renegade Fascist Ministers.

The enduring public image of the
French Foreign Legion is of a safe
haven for criminals of all nationalities.
But because of the current rise in Euro¬
pean unemployment, the Legion can
pick and choose its members more
carefully than it did in the past.

Today’s Legionnaire signs a contract
for five years and may find himself serv¬
ing at headquarters at Aubagne,
France, in Corsica, North Africa or in
French Guiana. Trained as paratroop¬
ers, jungle fighters, desert warriors and
survivaiists, the Legion last went into
action in 1978 at Kolwezi in southern
Zaire, and also suffered casualties as
part of the peace-keeping forces in
Beirut in troubled Lebanon more re¬
cently.

Those who love the legend, glamour
and mystique of the Legion will cherish
this remarkable book, for it’s all here:
the sacred white kepi headdress of
each Legionnaire, bewhiskered
“Father of the Legion” General Rollet,
the Monument to the Dead, the flags.

regiments, marching songs, customs,
medals, patches, weapons, uniforms,
and most of all, the deeds of these
fighting men — all volunteers from ev¬
ery nationality on earth.

The gratitude of every reader for
such a monumental study must go to
author Young, whose original inten¬
tion was to write this book in 1960. An
attack of malaria thwarted his early
efforts, but in the early 1980s, Young
petitioned President Frangois Mitte-
rand to let him undertake the task. The
Legion, too, granted him access to its
bases, its men and its milieu.

But perhaps the Legion wrote its
own best tribute in 1928 when it
placed a plaque at the entrance to a
tunnel it had just carved out of solid
rock through a hillside, 200 feet long,
25 feet wide and 10 feet high — with
picks, crowbars and shovels alone:
“The mountain barred our way. The
order was given to pass, nonetheless.
The Legion carried it out.” ^

BULLETIN BOARD

Continued from page 6

One Judiciary Committee staff member
told SOF that the bill language is
“intentionally vague.”

To the Senate’s credit, it did pass a
measure that reduces restrictions placed
on the interstate sale of handguns by
the 1968 Gun Control Act. However,
other bills pending in Congress would
ban “armor-piercing ammunition.” The
House versions — H.R. 4, introduced
by U.S. Rep. Mario Biaggi, D-NY, and
H.R. 13, sponsored by U.S. Rep. Jack
Brooks, D-Tex. — would seriously
regulate the manufacture and
importation of armor-piercing ammo.
The Senate version is S.104. The basic
problem with all the bills, according to
the National Reloading Manufacturers
Association, is that they make no
distinction between steel-plate armor
such as is on a tank, and body armor
such as made from synthetic fibers.

Thus a broad range of ammunition
could be affected.

Write or call your elected members of
Congress — both in the U.S. House of
Representatives and the U.S. Senate —
and let them know what you think.
Another Bulletin Board item, “Stand
Up, Be Counted,” tells you how to do
that

D istinguished
visitors. ..

Soldier of Fortune and its corporate
parent, Omega Group, Ltd., were

100 SOLDIER OI FORTUNE

OCTOBER 85

BACK ISSUES $5 00 ca.

*No. 1 — SUMMER *75: U.S. Vietnam Vets Attempt To Fight For Saigon; CIA
Assassination Of Trujillo; Col. Hoare & His Mercs in Angola.

•No. 4 — FALL ’76: Vietnam Vet First American KIA in Angola; SOF Interviews CIC
of Rhodesian Army; American Merc in Israel.

•No. 5 WINTER '77: Ralph Thorsen: Modem Bounty Hunter; Terror in Beirut — An
Inside Look At The PLO; SOF Interviews Sir Robert Thompson.

*No. 6 — SPRING ’77: SOF Recon: Action in South Africa; NRA Survival School;
Paramedics in Guatemala.

No. 7— SEPT. ’77: American Merc Destroys Cuban Espionage Ring; SAC Errors
in VN Airwar Operation, Part 1; Rhodesia: ‘ Castle Keep."

*No. 8 — NOV. '77: South African Army Prepares for War; Israeli Defense Force;
SOF Interviews Mike Echanis; SAC Errors in VN, Part 2.

No. 9 — JAN. *78; Africa Is Burning; A Professional Soldier Evaluates ClA-Cuban
Exile Ops; Freelancing in Cambodia.

•No. 11 — MAY ’78: Mercs' Togo Assassination Try; Thai Army General Speaks
Out; Cubans Torture U.S. POWs in Vietnam.

No. 12 — JULY ’78: French Foreign Legion Today, Part 1; H&K Assault Rifle;
South African Commandos.

•No. 13 — SEPT. 78: French Foreign Legion, Part 2; SOF Interviews Cambodia's
President-in-Exile; Mike Echanis: Hands vs. Guns.

No. 14 — NOV. 78: French Foreign Legion, Part 3; SWAT in Action; South African
Strike Into Angola.

No. 15 — JAN. ’79: Jeff Cooper's "Gunsite"; SOF Interviews Gen. John K.
Slnglaub; SOF Rides with Rhodesia’s Armored Corps.

No. 16 — FEB. 79: In Memoriam: Mike Echanis; French Foreign Legion Update;
American Rides with Grey's Scouts.

No. 17 — MARCH 79: U.S. Navy SEALs, Part 1; SOF Jumps With Confederate
Airborne; Colorado NG Shows Regulars How.

No. 18 — APRIL 79: U.S. Navy SEALs, Part 2; Tommy Gun; Rhodesian Ranch
Security; W.E. Fairbaim: Grandfather of SWAT.

No. 19 — MAY 79: SMG vs. Pistol; AK-47 & Its Variations; Soviets Slam SOF.
No. 20 — JUNE ’79: Death in the Night in Vietnam; Col. ’'Bull" Simons Engineers
Iranian Jailbreak; OPFOR: The Friendly Enemy.

No. 21 — JULY ’79: BATF Gestapo; Combat Tracking Techniques; Fighting for
Keeps; My Fight Againsl Fidel.

No. 22 — AUG. ’79: Mad Mike's Mercs in the Congo; Saigon: The Toughest Beat in
flte World; Handgun Stopping Power.

No- 23 — SEPT. *79: World Practical Pistol Championship; Duel of Master Snipers;
South African Motorcycle Troops.

No. 24 — OCT. 79: While Devil of Mozambique; Sidewinder SMG; Contact
Lenses for Shoolers.

No. 25 — NOV. ’79; Chopper Jobs; Nicaragua: The End; In Memoriam: Col. ‘‘Bull”
Simons; Return to Pams Island.

No. 26 — DEC. ’79: Korean Combat of Nerves; SOF with Border Patrol; Strategist
Plots WWill.

No. 27—JAN. '80: Stakeout: Rizzo s Raiders; Field Gear Needs Face Lift; Cobray
School.

No. 28 — FEB. ’80: Shootout: .45 vs 9mm; Only U.S. POW to Escape during SE
Asian War; Soviet Black Berets.

No. 29 — MARCH '80: Soviet Nuclear Plans; West Germany's GSG 9; Will
Volunteer Army Fight?

No. 30 — APRIL ’80: Texas Airborne NG; SOF Interviews Afghan Rebel Leader;
Angolan Border Fire Fight.

No. 32 — JUNE ’80: Vietnam Delta Ambush; Wolf Pack Skipper; RSA’s Cuban
Killer.

•No. 33 — JULY ’80: MGs for Rent; Vietnam: Why We Went, Why We Didn't Win;
SOF Tokos o Dive

*No. 34 — AUG. ’80: Gunfight at Fort Hustler, RVN; SOF; Contact in Rhodesia;
Marine Desert War Exercises.

No. 35 — SEPT. ’80: Assignment Afghanistan; In Cuban Waters; SAS Dares and
Wins.

No. 36—OCT. ’80: Jihad in Afghanistan; Soviet Special Forces; Shot in the Heart,
No. 37—NOV, '80: SMGs Find Home on the Range; Bringing Smoke on SWAPO;
Stunt Pilot's Pilot.

No. 38 — DEC. ’80: Vietnam: Howard’s Hill; Moroccos Desert War; Ruger’s
Mini-14.

No. 39 — JAN. ‘81: Sharpshooting with Chairman Jeff; Anatomy of a Combat
Knife; Cambodia: Journey into Hell.

No. 40 — FEB. ’81: AK-74; Hanoi's Hit List; Recruiting Scams; SOF Convention
Report.

No. 41 — MARCH ’81; Morocco's Murderous Marauders; Cold Weather Oper¬
ations; Escape & Evade from Angola.

No. 42 — APRIL '81: Afghanistan's Winter War; SAS at War in Malaya; Betrayal in
North Korea.

No. 43 — MAY ’81: Sex & Psywar; Marine Recon; SOF Staffer Inside Afghanistan,
No, 44 — JUNE ’81: SOG Specia': POW/MIAs in SE Asia; The Punch for the
Crunch.

No. 45 — JULY '81: Making War Movies; Angola: The War The World Forgot, Part
1; Vietnam Experience.

No. 46 — AUG. ’81: Angola. Part 2; Ulster Defense Regiment; Marine-Recon.
No, 47 — SEPT. '81: SOF Tests the UZI; A Day With Nicaragua's Jackals; Red
Trail in Africa.

No. 48 — OCT. ’81: South Africa's Boys in the Bush; USMC Gears up for the
Future; U.S. Army Ranger School.

No. 49 — NOV. ’81: The War in El Salvador; Our Man in Beirut; IPSC Nationals.
No, 50— DEC. '81: "Rebel" in Rhodesia. French Foreign Legion; Nightmares from
'Nam.

No, 51 — JAN. ’82: Laos — The War That Never Ended: Springbok Raid Grabs
Russians; Leatherwood SMG.

No. 52 — FEB. '82: Thailand’s Battle Road; 1981 SOF Convention; Killing for
Mother Russia; USSR’s Awesome AGS-17.

No, S3 — MARCH ’82: Seychelles Merc Fiasco; H&K G-11 Caseless Gun; 1981
SOF Shoot: SOF Interviews Israel Galili.

No. 54 — APRIL ’82: Rough & Ready Army Rangers; Capt. Dring s Private Navy;
Vinnell’s Saudi Arabian National Guard.

No, 55—MAY ’82: Beyond Angola’s Border; Leatherwood State-of-the Ail Scope;
Air Assault into IZ Heil.

No. 56 — JUNE ’82: FN FAL; Alexander Solzhenitsyn Speaks Out; SOF Uncovers
Sidearm Snafu.

No. 57 — JULY ’62: Make Mine Ml4; Soviet Surrogates at U.S. Army National
Training Center: USAF Spectre.

No. 58 — AUG. ’82: American Merc in Lebanon; M249 SAW; SOG in Cambodia.

No. 59 — SEPT. ’82: CETME MG82; Southern Philippines' Shadow War; Spanish
Foreign Legion.

No. 60 — OCT. ’82: Death on Africa’s Skeleton Coast; Bullets and Ballots in El
Salvador; SOF’s Thai Balloon Jump.

No. 61 — NOV. ’82: SOF Inside Afghanistan; Ml6 and Military Marketeering.
No. 62 — DEC. ’82: Global Warfare Special — SBS and SAS in the Fslklands;
Lebanon; Afghanistan.

No. 63 — JAN. '83: War in South West Africa; Life and Times of Hilaire du Berrier;
Taiwan's Tunnel Vision.

No. 84 — FEB. ’83: SOF Fires AGS-17; Gringo in El Salvador’s Bush; Britain's
Gurkhas.

No. 65 — MARCH '83: Peru’s Weird Warriors; SOF Convention '82; Viet Vet
Salute.

No. 66 — APRIL ’83: Bloody la Drang; SOF and the KGB; China’s American Hero;
SOF Three-gun Match.

No. 67 — MAY ’83: AKS-74; SOF Looks at LRRPs; CIA's Korean Caper.

No. 68 — JUNE ’83: Appointment in Angola; USS Ranger ; MX Peacekeeper.
No. 69 — JULY ’83: Operation Hastings, RVN; Central America — the War on our
Doorstep; Inside Free Angola.

No. 70 — AUG. '83: Costa Rica; Falkland War Weapons; Ivan's Armory
No. 71 — SEPT. ‘83: Crisis in Central America; Correspondent Hitches Up With
the Cavalry in il Corps; Soviet RPK-74.

No. 72 — OCT. '63: SOF Goes to the Movies — The Final Option and Blue
Thunder; Richard M. Nixon on El Salvador; Korea Waits for War.

No. 73 — NOV. ’83: SOF Joins Marines in Lebanon; Bob Denard, Master Merc;
Yanks in Honduras.

No. 74 — DEC. ’83: SOF Exclusive Reports on War around the World from
Afghanistan to Angola.

No. 75 — JAN. ’84: El Salvador Update; Low Jump In Rhodesia; USSR's T-80
Tank.

No. 76 — FEB. ’84: SOF Scoop: The Grenada Papers; Convention '83; SOF
Interviews Russian POWs in Afghanistan.

No. 77 — MARCH '84: Beretta's 70 Series; Afghanistan Update; Flying Tigers
No. 78 — APRIL ’84: Karen Rebels in Burma; SOF on Lebanon and Nicaragua's
Front Lines: Navy C/SAR.

No. 79 — MAY 84: U.S. Muscle in Central America; WA; Burma's Golden
Triangle; Russian Body Armor

No. 80 — JUNE ’84: Legionnaire Tackles Gs in Salvador; Karens’ Last Battle?;
Atlacatt Assault.

No. 81 — JULY ’84: Soviet AKR; Inside Nicaragua with Contras and Commies;
Brits Battle IRA in Belfast.

No. 82 — AUG. ’84: Vietnam Loses Face in Battle for Ampil; Fatlschirmjgger; Merc
Ripoff in Surinam; S&W's New .45.

No. 83—SEPT. '84: MACV Recondo School; Afghan Raiders on Russia's Border;

Chicom Arms Invade the U.S.

No. 84 — OCT. ’84: SOF Jumps with IDF Airborne; Glock-17 Pistol; The Charlie
Beckwith Story-

No. 85 — NOV. ’84: The Situation in Central America; Brits in Belize: Groin Guns.
No. 86 — DEC. ’64: Terminator: Arnold Schwarzenegger; SOF Ships with Salvo
Sailors; Britain's Battlin' Brens; Vietnam Vets 20 years later.

No. 87 — JAN. ’85: Final Verdict M16A2; Central America: Private Sector and
Army Suffers; More on Asia. Afghanistan and Burma.

No. 88 — FEB. ’85: CIA’s Guerrilla Manual; Salvador's Women Warriors; Iran-
Iraq’s Endless War; Panjsher VII; Vietnam's Vietnam.

No. 89 — MARCH '85: E! Salvador’s Air Force; Vietnam Memorial Dedication;
Reflections in les; Zambezi Manhunt.

No. 90 — APRIL ’85: SOF’s Two Month Trek in Angola; El Salvador s Deep Recon
Rangers; Royal Marines and Martial Arts; Solomon Islands Coast Watcher.

No. 91 — MAY ’85: SOF in Angola, Part II; Special Forces A Team in Jordan; Eden
Pastora Interview, Snow Solo with SOF.

No. 92 — JUNE 85: SOF Inside Nicaragua; Afghan’s Winter War; Rambo: First
Blood II; South Africa’s New Range Rifles

No. 93—JULY *85: Hind Hunters: SOF Trains FDN in Anti-Helo Tactics; Cambodia
in Conflict: Hanoi Hits Hard; Soviet BG-15; Pleiku Punch-up.

No. 94 — AUG. ’85: Special 10th Anniversary Issue; RKB Profile; El Salvador;
Middle East; Africa; Afghanistan; Coping with Counterinsurgency.

COMBAT WEAPONS — SPRING ’85: Merkava— Israel’s Chariot of the Desert;
Carrier Group Defense; Jets vs. Guerrillas; Attack Choppers, Colt M16A2.
COMBAT WEAPONS — SUMMER ’85: Airland Battle; Mi-28; Apache Meets Its
Match; Strike Eagle: Dual Role F15-E; Beretta's 92S8 F America's New Sidearm;
Sgt. York: Battle Ready or Boondoggle?

POW/MIA SPECIAL: Bo Gritz — Hero or Huckster?

‘Available only in reprint edition.

Mall to: SOF EXCHANGE, SF 10/85, P.O. Box 687, Boulder, CO 80306

NAME,_____—_____j_

ADDRF5S„______

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Wc accept telephone orders on NutoCard & VISA — call us at (303) 449-3750. Sorry, no
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INCLUDE 75t FOR EACH ADDITIONAL ITEM FOR POSTAGE AND HANDLING. Overseas
orders add 30%. PLEASE ALLOW 4-6 WEEKS FOR DELIVERY.

OCTOBER 85

SOU)IKK OF FORTUNE 101

honored to play host to some
distinguished visitors recently. Dr. A.
Qayum Kochai, an exiled member of
Afghanistan’s diplomatic corps who has
served as his homeland’s ambassador
to several nations, and his colleague,
Abdul Halim Shams, were honored
guests at a steak dinner reception in
Boulder at the home of Robert K.
Brown, SOF’s publisher and president
of Omega Group. Kochai and Shams,
accompanied by noted members of the
Afghan community in nearby Denver,
were representing the Afghanistan
Foundation. Inc. Their aim is to keep
the murderous Soviet tyranny being
inflicted on their homeland in the

forefront of the American public
conscience in hopes that Afghanistan’s
freedom can be won.

H onor
roll...

Refugee Relief International, Inc.:
MANDTC LAB, George C. Dewey, M.D.,
C. D. Smith, Patricia Anderson, Gary &
Greg.

Afghan Freedom Fighters Fund:

Kenneth Schustereit, Steven W. Hall,
Aron Rush, Greg Driscoll, Dennis Rush,
TSgt Adolf Flores Jr., Wayne Morrison,
William Hartig, Laird W. Ramsay, Richard
E. Schwemier.

El Salvador/Nicaragua Defense Fund:
Thomas Echols, James D. Lofton, Karl
D. Matthews, Mike McPike, Servis &
Wright.

Drop points for El Salvador/Nicaragua
Defense Fund: Airborne Pawn & Trading
Co., 5818 Yadkin Rd., Fayetteville, NC
28303; Wm. Scott Lane, S.A.F.E, INC.,

305 Center St., So. Haven, MI 49090; H.

F. Davis, 179 E. Sacramento Ave., Chico,
CA 95926. ^

CORRECTION

Sherwood International's “ Elimi¬
nator Boot" will be featured at the
SOF Convention in Las Vegas, NV;
Sept. 20-22 at Island D (not Lumina-
tor as indicated in SOF, Sept. '85,
page 78).

See Sherwood's
ads on pages

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US Historical Society .. . C-6

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Global School oi InyoEiigmions . ! 05

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urukrtire. 106

iivirvj5lrtf A Company. ICkl

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$22.97! Add $3.001 for above
■£ Take-Down Camo models ! j
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most popular since 1968—
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102 SOLMEK OF FORTUNE

OCTOBER 85

TRAILBREAKER™

THE COMPLETE WALKING SYSTEM

High tech Mking staff separates, into 4
modular sections adjustable from 36”
to 56”. Waterproof hollow sections
contain compass, camera mount, medi¬
cal kit, survival kit and more! Used full
length it’s a walking support, camera
monopod, rifle brace, etc. Remove a
section and it’s a walking cane, defen¬
sive nightstick, etc. Weight: 21 oz.
Materials: T6063 Aircraft Aluminum;
Brass Compass Cap; Nylon Wrist
Strap. Money Back Guarantee!

Send $49.95 (postpaid) to:

LIFELINE INDUSTRIES

Box 771 SOF,
Santa Monica, CA 90406

By the makers of L1FEKNIFE

THE LEADER IN
NIGHT VISION SCOPES

FEATURES:

• 18mm First Generation Reconditioned
Intensifier

• Ruggedized Combat Oriented
Construction

• Newly Designed & Improved Eyepiece

• Muzzle Flash Protection & Automatic
Brightness Control

• 4x Optical System

• Unique Quick Range Focus System

• Weighs Only 3 ibs. (Smallest/Lightest
of the Military Scopes)

INCLUDES:

• Night Sight

• Front Filter for Daylight Boresighting

• Ml A/M 14 & AR 15/M 16 Adapter Brackets

• Newly Designed Carrying Case

• Batteries (Replacements
Available Over the-Counter)

• Manual

CALL OR WRITE:

Surveillance Target AcQUsmoN
Night Observation components

P.O. BOX 6274 - SAN BERNARDINO. CA 92412 USA
714-882-5789/714-883-2728/TLX 675537 (STANO SBDN)

Plfivf Contact our Export Dept,
about your foreign requirement!.

Send $4 00 for
ComprehcTiwvs* Catalog*
of our STANO Device*

LEGIONNAIRES
SURVIVAL
BOOT KNIFE

ONLY

$ 12»5

Add $1.05 Hndl.

Model

K-99-A

Double edge 440 stainless steel blade.
Full tang one piece construction. Leath¬
er sheath with quick release snap and
metal boot/belt clip. Money Back
Guaranteed If Not Fatty Satisfiedf!

WESTBURY SALES CO. DEPT. BK-10-SF
373 Maple Avenue, Weatbury, New York 11590

DON’T GO IN THE WOODS
WITHOUT IT

dealers near you or call805/656 5191

ifAl m\ ffWFI flff TOLL FREE

800 / 255-4716

"FRIEND AND PARTNER"

Loyal •Intelligent companion for Family Protection 'Home
•Field •“Patrol." 37.5 Timberwolf 62.5 German Shepherd 4th
generation hybrids taking 7 years to produce from North
American Gray Timberwolves and German Import Shepherds.

DO NOT CONFUSE The TIMBERSHEPHERD with the Vz
wolf % shepherd mix. poorly bred, unpredictable and
unsuitable as a professionally trained working dog.
KEENER SENSES of Sight *Hearing -Smell than any other
domestic breed.

LONGER LIFE SPAN over the Rottwieler -German
Shepherd -or Doberman Pincher
EVEN TEMPERAMENT Ideal for the family with small
children. The TIMBERSHEPHERD is bred exclusively as a
superior working dog — Devoted, Useful, Life Long
Companion

OUR TRAINING RESOURCES are extensive and most
credible, employing the latest techniques and standards
currently in use by the U.S. Dept, of Defense Military
Working Dog Program -Family -Home -Law Enforcement
(Public or Private) -Operative •Whatever!!! -Full Health
-Temperament -Hip Guarantees -Shipping — Worldwide.

LRRR SECURITY SERVICES, INC.

Box 1620 M-10A, Aiken, S.C. 29001 (603} 649-S936
Brochure information includes color reprint of SWAT and
Survival Guide magazine articles.

SEND $3.00 U.S. FUNDS

I

i

TIMBERSHEPHERD ™

TIMBERWOLF/GEHMAN SHEPHERD HYBRID
As seen Jn S.W.A.T. Magazine November 1983
and Survival Guide Magazine August 1984

CL m

DC «

Blood & Guts

On Video

I

I

I

I

I

I

I

I

I

I

I

I

I

I

I

I

I

I

I

I

1

Available on VHS&Beta:

□ Fists Of Fury $19.95

Bruce Lee’s 1st epic; stambang chop-socky action.

□ Hitler! The Black Fox $19.95

Oscar-winning bio narrated by Marlene Dietrich.

□ Vietnam: Remember S39.95

The men & missions of America’s longest war.

□ Armed Forces Workout S39.95

The actual military program set to music!

Cl FREE! MOVIES UNLIMITED VIDEO CATALOG

with any movie order or $5.00 separately (refunded
with 1st order)

1000 s & 1000’s of described titles in every category-
Nobody has more'

Clip ad & mail with order. Or use our 24-Huur Toll*
Free Order Phone: 1-800-523-0823 (PA residents
call 215/722*8298),and charge to your credit card .

Send titles checked above, on: O VHS □ Beta

Enclosed is $_ . (Check or money order.

Add $3.^0 postage. PA add 6% sales tax.)

Name____

Address _

City_State_Zip_

Charge purchase to

□ Visa □ MasterCard □ American Express

Card #_

Expires_

Signature.

MOVIES UNLIMITED fcVeVe the Moviestl®
6736 Castor Ave. • Philadelphia, PA 19149

J

Beretta
Automatic
Pistols

The Collector’s
and Shooter's
Comprehensive Guide
byJ.B. Wood
Hardcover S19.95. 192 Panes

The first and only English-language book devoted en¬
tirely to the world-famous Beretta. J.B. Wood, an expert
on automatic pistols and especially Berettas, traces the
history and technology of the Beretta from the model
1915 through all its stages of development. The US mili¬
tary has just named a present-day model its standard
sidearm, and the contract calls for 315,000 pistols to be
produced in the next 5 years. More than 170 unusual
photos & diagrams from the author's private collection
and the Beretta archives document the Beretta story.
Discerning collectors and shooters are certain to make
this new book a firearms classic.

Please send me_copies of Beretta Automatic Pistols

@ $19.95 (plus $2 postage for 1st book & 50? for additional
copies) PA residents add 6%. If not completely satisfied I may
return within 30 days in original packing for full refund.

□ Visa □ MasterCard □ Am. Express □ Check Enel.

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Name___

Address___

City, ST, Zip.__

Credit Card users may call 1-SQO-READ-NOW

STACKPOLE BOOKS

America s Great Outdoor Publisher

Department SOF

P:0. Box 1831, Harrisburg, PA 17105

OCTOBER SS

<»! HMUTNI 103

SUPPLY LOCKER

SUPPLY LOCKER

Steiner Binoculars

ON SALE!

The best military binoculars. Used by over
40 armies around the world. Super bright
and lightweight ! (All models are rubber
armored)

6 x 30 G

164.25

8 x 30 G

141.75

7 x 35 G

194.95

7 x 50 G

246.75

10 x50 G

246.75

7 x 35 Scout with compass

336.75

7 x 50 Commander with

compass and illumination

524.25

15 x80 G

546.75

15 x 80 C Observer

with compass

629.75

Free shipping.

5% discount for prepaid orders (check or m.o.)

LIVINGSTON & CO.

938 F. Street N.W.

W9

Washington, D.C. .20004

(202) 638-5268

a— ■■

1st time available in the U.S.

NORSEAXE

Scandinavian Army Tested
Survival Fieldaxe

Made in
Norway

Hunting, Camping,

| Ice Fishing

Rugged Quality
Features:

• 3 locking positions
Blade: Swedish
Carbonsteel
Housing:

Coldforged Steel
Handle: Hickory
Sheath: Leather
Weight 1.6 lbs.
Length 15.5"

2 Year Mfg.
Guarantee

Limited Time Only CC- 7 QC
Introductory Price
(Canada-add $4.00. Co, res. 3%)
send check or money order to

dealer inquiries

1272 Washington St.
Dept. A

P.O. Box 44475
Denver, CO 80201

30 Day Satisfaction Guarantee

3 ^ $ 129.95

QUALITY YOU CAN
COUNT ON.. TANT0

At better dealers near you or call.

805/6565191
TOLL FREE
s 800/255-4776

NAM GRAPHICS, INC.

P.O. Box 1737
Altamonte, Springs, Fla.
32715*1737

•Any 2 Shirts $18.00
Send $1.00 for catalog
Florida SeUdents Add 6%

The famous C.I.A.

“Get out of jail free” card

An exact reprint of the C.I.A. Covert Opera¬
tions I D. card carried by members of the
SOG (Studies and Observations Group) in
S.E Asta during the Viet Nam Era.

. Do not detain or question him! He is
authorized to wear civilian clothing, carry
unusual personal weapons, pass into res¬
tricted areas, requisition equipment of alt
types

'If he is killed, do not remove this document
from him! Etc. printed in three colors'

SOLD AS A WAR $5.00

RELIC ONLY! guaranteed 1

Devil’s Brigade
Box 1625 Dept A
El Dorado, Ar 71730

30 page catolots

$1.00

(Free with order)

BULLETPROOF

VEST

Will stop the .357 Magnum, 9mm and 00
Buck. Meets and exceeds “Threat Level
II-A” tested in accordance with the NILECJ-
STD-0101.01. Weighs 2 3 A lbs. Fits easily
under T-shirt.

Front & Back Protector .... $150.00 ppd.
Detachable Side Panels ...... $27.50 ppd.

Officially tested by the U.S. Government
Edgewood Arsenal at the Aberdeen Prov¬
ing Grounds under the U.S. Department
of Justice Standards, State height, chest
and waist measurements.

MATTHEWS POLICE SUPPLY CO.

(a division of David Matthews, Inc.)

P.O. Box 1754
Matthews, N.C. 28105

T-fc .,- J JEFF COOPER'S

Aj AMERICAN
PISTOL INSTITUTE

THE FIRST WITH THE MOST

Rifle, Pistol, Shotgun — All Levels

“CRISIS MANAGEMENT IN
CLOSE-RANGE INTERPERSONAL
CONFRONTATIONS”

As the originators and developers of modern
smallarms technique, we constitute the fountain¬
head of the doctrine of personal weaponcraft.

Twenty-four firing ranges, arm's length to 1000
meters — three indoor simulators — twenty-four
expert instructors — seven qualified range
masters — a complete gunsmithy on the ranch.

Our perfected training methods combine the
discipline essential to safety with cordial,
personal contact In an atmosphere of helpful
comradeship. Our aim Is to expand the Individual
self-confidence of each client to the point where
he can enjoy a degree of peace of mind rarely
known In today's hazardous environment.

Student-teacher ratio Is never more than four-to-
one in range work, and over half our tactical
instruction is conducted with one coach for each
pupil.

A SUCCESSFUL GUNSITE GRADUATE
IS SECURE AND IN CONTROL OF
HIS ENVIRONMENT.

Write Dept. B2 for information.

Send $2.00 for API brochure.
MASTERCARD/VfSA ACCEPTED

AMERICAN PISTOL INSTITUTE

Paulden, Arizona 86334

1G4 SOlUlFIl Ilf l-OUTi'SK

OCTOBER 85

SPECIAL ACTION
COMMANDO SCHOOL

Special Forces training in the
following areas: unconventional
warfare ops; counter insurgency
ops; survival techniques; pa¬
trolling techniques; special
assault weapons and tactics;
electronic security measures; light
and general purpose M.G.; exotic
weapons and tactics, adjustment
procedures for artillery and TAC-
AIR, and much more.

Courses Available: 7 days
Basic Commando Course (BCC)
Intermed. Commando Course (ICC)
Advanced Commando Course (ACC)
Escape & Evasion (E&E)

Survival Course (SC)

Geographical Characteristics:

Forest Terrain
Average Temp. Day 75°

Evening 60°

For a brochure containing a com¬
plete list of all training and prices,
write to the:

Special Action Commando School
P.O. Box 506, Pecos, New Mexico
87552 Brochure $2.00
(505) 757-6933

1985 brochure supercedes all
other information and brochures.

presents

-

a.v. Library

ni im»—- -

.PACIFIC

VIDEO

The official Armed Forces footage de-
tailing in savage and bloody battle the
most awesome combined air, sea and
land conflict in history.

From Pearl Harbor and defeat to epic
victories and final confrontation at the
Japanese homeland.

A two-part visual masterpiece featuring
the most nerve jolting combat footage
ever ... all front line beachheads and gun
camera stuff of first magnitude.

Plus!! ... An additional tribute to the
fighting 1st Cavalry Division, “Hall for
Laatfiar," Los Negros, The Admiralties,
Leyte, Manila .. . first to hit the beaches,
they gave new meaning tojungle warfare.

65 minutes of great combat footage,
priced at

Specify Beta or VHS.

Send to: FIRM GROFK FILMS
3100 Almost Ave., Santa Monica, CA 90409

U S. and Canada, add $2.50 shipping, foreign
orders, add $3.50. CA res. add 6’4% Sales Tax.
Visa & Master - Include card no. ft expiration.

090*9 TOU-FRfC (000) 994-0941, ®xt. 929.

In Cailf. (S00) 492-7297, ext. 929.

UNIT Hi

LIGHTWEIGHT, STRONG
AND TEAR RESISTANT

WATER REPELLANT
& FLAME RETARDANT

ELASTIC WRIST &
ANKLE BANDS

ONLY $9.95

Hooded Model S11.95

Send check or
money order to

Chameleon Outfitters
P.O. Box 32878 dep.B
Charlotte NC 28232

SALES REPS
WANTED
Earn $50,000
+ Part Time!

Rep the world’s largest most
successful security company.

Sell exciting James Bond
countersurveillance, security
and communications systems.

Your market for these much
needed products includes
police, governments, major
corporations.

$10,000 INVESTMENT
SECURED BY INVENTORY
Contact Mr. Parsons
212 - 697-8140

CCS COMMUNICATION
CONTROL INC.

633 Third Ave.

New York, N.Y. 10017

Offering

My New Hollow Handle
Survival & Combat Knife

Non-Giore Mat Combat Finish

8 "

440 C
Blade with
Saw Teeth
That Work!

13" overall
length.

All ttoinleis steel
construction with
combat sheath.

\

Only

$225°°

Photo by Mother
Earth Newt

*

Knives

Custom Handmade Knives
by Robert Parrish

1922 Spartanburg Hwy. Kendersonvljle. NC 20739
Phon* (704) 6«-34«6
Send SASE tor «oore information

Be a DETECTIVE

AND EARN YOUR RADGE

»CASSETTE

TAPES

• WORLD'S

LARGEST

*««*•&>»>? |A

NO EXPERIENCE OR COLLEGE REQUIRED

■ AUOIO/ViSUAL
PROGRAMS

Men* Women-Leam from the experts. Train at homeforan
exciting part or full time career as a private detective or
security consultant. Start your own business or work for
others. Step-by-step you will loam how to conduct any
Investigation, how and where to find that first job, and
much more. Diploma awarded. Equipment. Employment
Assistance.

“For An Education That Works”

GLOBALSCHOOLOF INVESTIGATION
Box 191 SOF Hanover, Mass. 02339

Rush hee facts. Show me how I can learn at home. No obligation.
No salesman will celt.

STACKPOLE BOOKS

America’s Great Outdoor Publisher
Department SOF

P.O. Box 1831, Harrisburg, PA 17105

Address_

City, State_ Zip

Springfield
1903 Rifles

by Lt. Col.

William S» Brophy
USAR, Ret.

624 pages
1,500 photos

The illustrated story of the design, develop¬
ment, and production of all the models,
appendages and accessories of the gun
considered one of the finest military rifles
ever made. This lifetime work of the rifles
premier authority, is extensively docu¬
mented with 1,500 rare photos from private
collections and will stand for all time as the
definitive work on the 1903 Rifles. A must for
every serious collector!

■ -rr mm —' —. «-r —r —' — — — — — — — ™ —— — — „

YES! Please rush me _ copies of The

Springfield 1903 Rifles @ $49.95 (plus $3 postage)
PA residents add 6% tax. If not delighted I may
return the book within 30 days.

□ VISA □ M.C. □ AM. EX. □ Check

Card No._Exp. Date

Name

SOLDIER OF FORTUNE 105

OCTOBER 85

SUPPLY LOCKER

SUPPLY LOCKER

THE

UUjlMAF&^m

GAME

•War/Combat Games
•High Cash Profits
•Full or Part Time
•Selection of Guns
•Washable Pellets
•Complete Game
Supplies

For Dealer info, write:
THE ULTIMATE GAME
P.0. Box 1856
Ormond Beach, Florida

32075

P.S. Call us at:
904/677-4358

“NO LIE Gl ’ 1

%*!/**>

'-en? lit OUT

T6

T30

SWIFT-SILENT-DEADLY

~sm tomW

{Si'i Lai Vich# means sfFjgri &i\ ^7.1

M onvf Order* prompt, priority shipping

(includes o ft h)

CAPS & T-Shirts SQ.^Each

( . IT --~ ~

Shirts Screened Front & Back; "No Cheap Charlie! 1 ' I

OP available if specified, STATE SIZE & STYLE NO.

For Overseas Air Mail add $2 25/item

SIN LOI PRODUCTIONS Inc. [SLPQ
1105 N. Main St. Suite 2A No. 2
Gainesville, FL 32601

We Carry Many VIEThJ&M T-firing
Send $2 for Catalog [free with purchase]

These brand new’^'* , ^^ > ^
Combat Sweaters or better^'*
known as ‘Wooly Pully,’ are 100
per cent pure wool and are
genuine Forces issue with
epaulettes. Colors: Olive - Navy
- RAF Blue and Cammo. Sizes
are from 36" to 46".

★ Sets of '58 Webbing Equipment
★ SAS and GS Bergan Rucksacks ★ Para Smocks
and SAS Smocks ★ N/l w/proof jackets

Send $1 for FREE Catalog

SILVERMAN’S (SOF)
London El 4PS Tel 01-790 5257

(Personal callers Mon-Fri)

Britain's leading suppliers of kit to the Professionals

A 480 page, 2Vz lb. parts catalog,
listing military, commercial, anti¬
que U.S. and Foreign gun parts.
The most complete parts listing
in the world! Used by govt, agen¬
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Order now, receive $3 certificate
toward purchase of any catalog

item. toflSppd.

Numrich. ARMS

CORP West Hurley, N.Y. 12491

LEARN GUN REPAIR

YOU CAN BE AN EXPERT
GUNSMITH IN LESS THAN ft
SIX MONTHS

START NOW AND EARN YOUR DIPLOMA
AT HOME IN YOUR SPARE TIME. r

OUR FAMOUS STAFF OF EXPERTS WILL TEACH YOU; *

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• HOW TO GET YOUR FEDERAL FIREARMS LICENSE

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PROVEN METHODS- CHARTS - EXPLODED VIEWS
ACCREDITED & APPROVED BY STATE A NATIONAL
AGENCIES & BY THE V.A. FOR Gl BENEFITS
OVER 40,000 STUDENTS SINCE 1946

JLenliorJIREna^ _

Please RUSH FREE facts on how I can become a
professional gunsmith the QUICK easy home study
v way No Obligation No salesman will call

NAME _ AGE _

AOOflESS _

CITY ___ STATE _ ZIP __

MODERN GUN REPAIR SCHOOL, dopt. GA105
2538 N. 0TH ST., PHOENIX. ARIZONA 85008

INTRODUCTORY SALE

The response to our SOF 10th anniversary sale
was so overwhelming, we’re offering another
special sale on two fantastic new items. Read onl

Secretly listen to every sound
in your home or office . . .

From any telephone —
anywhere in the world!

As soon as you plug the amazing new Infinite Ear Security
Listening System into any modular phone jack, it’s up and
running. Then, just dial your phone number from any phone in
the world, beep the matching tone generator into the
mouthpiece (only you can activate the system), and listen to
every word, every whisper, every tiny sound in that location
through the Infinite Ear's super-sensitive microphone!

Just imagine the peace of mind you'll have, knowing that you
can check on the kids at home, or monitor for the presence of an
intruder — 24 hours a day, from anywhere in the world! Order
now, and SAVE S100.00! Regularly $289.95, Sale price $189.95
only while limited supplies last. Send only $189.95 + $6.50
shipping ($196.45), Foreign add $5.00. Order now!

Fabulous new 30 Hr Tape Recorder!
Price Slashed to only $89.95

That's right, a full 30 hours on one cassette tape! Our
newest long-play 30 hr cassette recorder debuts here for the first
time! Regular price is a low $249.95. but during this introductory
sale we're almost giving them away at only $69.95! Compare to
7, 10, and 14 hr recorders that sell for up to $250.00, provide far
less recording time. & can't play standard speed tapes!

The brand-new X.TEN 30 Hour Recorder can record and
play all your regular cassettes at the standard speed. Then flip
the switch to the X-Tended Speed and increaso recording timfe
by an amazing 1,000%! Gel 30 hrs on a 180 min. cassette,
(20hrs on a 120, I5hrs on a 90, & lOhrs on a 60). Perfect for
security monitoring, classes, lectures, business meetings, &
more. You’ll never see a price this low again! Send only $e9.95
+ 7.05 shipping ($97.00). Foreign add $9.50. Sale ends when
limited supplies are exhausted. Order now!

Items above carry a 100% guarantee! Our fantastic giant
catalogue packed with surveillance & counter-surveillance elec¬
tronics security devices, laser weapons, kits, plans, books. &
much more FREE with order, or send $2.00 (refundable). Send
name, address, item(s) you’re ordering, & payment to;

UNIVERSAL ELECTRONICS

15015 Ventura Blvd., Dept. F10
Sherman Oaks, CA 91403 (818) 509-9124

soteiEH of rmnm

OCTOBER S5

Endorsed by National Association of Victims of Armed Intruders (NAVAI).

IF YOU ARE PREPARED TO PROTECT YOUR HOME,

you will want to display the "A" size of this quality black on yellow
vinyl sticker on the windows and doors of your home most likely
to be an entry for intruders. The “B” size sticker is for your garage
door, or it could be used as a bumper sticker.

Whether or not you order stickers, you will want to know about
NAVAI, an organization open to all who are concerned with the
problems law abiding citizens encounter when they attempt to
protect themselves from armed intruders within their own homes.
Its members learn from shared experiences, explore protective
techniques and attempt to influence legislation to make protecting
oneself within one's home easier.

Item Qty. Price

BASIC PACKET:

Six “A” & one “B" size stickers. $5.00 ea.x _=__

ADDITIONAL STICKERS:

when ordered with basic packet:

Size “A" (2x4 7/8 inches) .$ .50 ea.x _•=._

Size "B” (3x7 3/8 inches).SI.15 ea.x _=_

Co*t of ordered itemi . _

Sales Tax (for Utah deliveries) x$.0575 _

Send me information on ‘NAVAI''.. .. . FREE

Postage and Handling (per order). . SI .00

TOTAL PRICE OF ORDER _

Name: __

Address: _ _

H; -

State: _______ __- Zip: _

SEND TO:

LOOMiS-OAVIS ENTERPRISES. INC.

445 East 200 South, Suite 45
Salt Lake City, Utah 84111

Satisfaction guaranteed or money back
Allow 4 to 6 weeks tor delivery

Fallschirmajager

German

Airborne Poster

# (Pennant)

■^,‘7 raft**

24”x36" Full color poster

$8.95

plus $2.00 Postage & Handling
Send check, money order, VISA or
MasterCard to:

SOF EXCHANGE
P.O. Box 687, Dept. GP
Boulder, CO 80306

OCTOBER 85

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GENUINE GOV’T. ISSUE
M-65 FIELD JACKET

Woodland Camouflage and Oliva Drab (OD) Green.
Please do not mistake us for a similar sd —

WE are the ORIGINAL!

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AVAILABLE IN CURRENT GOV’T COLORS:

Woodland Camouflage • Olive Drab OR Tiger
Stripe Camouflage • Swat Black • Police Navy •
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For proper fit, specify chest measurement. Ge¬
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jackets in Woodland Camouflage only. Sizes: 4-6,
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State size and color and mail proper amount
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P.O. BOX 20008, Dept. SF
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TO-

LIBER—TEES ®

125 Liberty St.
Allentown, PA 18102

SULD1EB OF FOM'IttE 107

83X301 AlddflS

CLASSIFIED

-*—*— x — x—x

CURRENT REQUIREMENTS — AH ads MUST be received
by the 1st, four months prior to Issue cover date. Ad copy
must be typed or written clearly with authorizing signa¬
ture, telephone number and payment. Advertisers offering
Information packets for a fee must send a sample of pack¬
et. Cost per Insertion Is $1 per word — $20 minimum.
Personal classified ado are 50 cents per word — $10 mini¬
mum. Name, address and telephone are to be Included in
the count. FOR EXAMPLE: P.O. Bo* 693 = 3 words; Boul¬
der, Colorado = 2 words; 80306 = 1 word. Abbreviations
such as A.P., 20mm, U.S., etc., count as one word each.
Hyphenated words and telephone numbers are counted
as two words. We reserve the right to delete or change any
copy which we determine to be objectionable. Mall to
SOLDIER OF FORTUNE Classified, P.O. Box 693, Boulder,
CO 80306.

READERS OF BOTH DISPLAY AND CLASSIFIED
ADVERTISING ARE ADVISED THAT SOF MAGAZINE
DOES NOT HAVE THE ABILITY TO VERIFY VALIDITY OF
EVERY ADVERTISEMENT CONTAINED HEREIN. SHOULD
ANY READER HAVE A PROBLEM WITH PRODUCTS OR
SERVICES OFFERED BY AN ADVERTISER, HE SHOULD
SEEK ASSISTANCE FROM HIS NEAREST POSTAL IN¬
SPECTOR.

SOLDIER OF FORTUNE MAGAZINE IS A MAGAZINE OF
NATIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL DISTRIBUTION. THERE
MAY BE PRODUCTS FOR WHICH SALE, POSSESSION OR
INTERSTATE TRANSPORTATION MAY BE RESTRICTED,
PROHIBITED OR SUBJECT TO SPECIAL LICENSING RE¬
QUIREMENTS IN YOUR STATE. PURCHASERS SHOULD
CONSULT THE LOCAL LAW-ENFORCEMENT AUTHOR¬
ITIES IN THEIR AREA.

DYSART'S WOLF KENNEL

MACKENZIE VALLEY TIMBERWOLVES

Would you like to have a companion & protector bred
from the largest strain of wolves in the world, like the
one above? Crossed with the finest German Shepherd
imports; % wolf and up, puppies & trained adults. I
devote my time to wolves & wolf-crosses only ,
therefore I can provide the Finest. AH pups WBA
registered at no charge. Pictures and info — $5.00.
CHARLES DYSART
Box 597, Henrietta, North Carolina 28076
Phone 704-657-6220 or 704-657-9273

MOVING FAST? Keep a permanent address for as low as $6 a
month. Not a box number but your own address and suite
number. Also available—phone number, remaillng, mail for¬
warding and more. ALL CONFIDENTIAL. For information en¬
close a stamp to THE BRANCH OFFICE, 3341 W. Peoria Ave.,
Phoenix, AZ 85029. (602)993-7534. (100)

LE MERCENAIREI Monthly Intelligence newsletter on terror¬
ism, communist subversion, covert operations. $15 year. $17
overseas. Sample $2. LE MERCENAIRE, PO Box 507,
Fredertcktown, MO 63645. (103)_

FOR SALE. Genuine United States Armed Forces surplus
clothing, individual equipment, packs, boots, survival gear,
first-aid packets, etc. Send $1 for our latest catalog to STEVE
J. PEDERGNANA, JR., PO Box 1062, Oak Park, IL 60304.
196)

[Survival 1st'.

Field Survival Hollow Handle Knife
with Survival Kit . $17.95

IOV2 inches overall with sheath

Urban Survival
Wallet Push Knife-
for those unexpected
encounters!

440 Stainless Steel
with wallet sheath.$14.95

JfSEND CHECK OR MONEY ORDER plus
$2.00 Shipping to:

6.1. Ltd.

33 Winrock Center, Suite 501
Albuquerque, N.M. 87110

■ RESTRICTIONS MAY APPLY. CHECK LOCAL LAWS.
Free eclogue with order or send $2.00
for catalogue of martial arts weapons.

WWII RELICS! Cheaper than Delta, WWII Ltd, Collector s
Armoury! Flags, daggers, medals, insignia, Helmets. Illus¬
trated catalog, $1 (refundable). RELICS, Box 361-D, Cam¬
bridge, MN 55008. (96)_

VIETNAM COLLECTOR? Veteran? Patches, books, Dl pins,
T-shirts. New: Grenada, Lebanon tributes. Catalog $1. SAT-
CONG, Box 177VF, Syracuse, NY 13208. (103)_

FIREWORKS. BUY DIRECT. Price list, send $1 for a color
catalog to ACE FIREWORKS, PO Box 221, Dept. F, Conneaut,
OH 44030. (104)

GRENADA, BEIRUT. Special Forces, Recon, SEALs, many
more large decals. Send stamp for price list. ELITE FORCES,
22 Orchard Street, Newton, NJ 07860. (108)

MARAUDER’S SURPLUS: A complete listing of field and
technical manuals; Elite commando and regular-army surplus
at the best prices In the country. Send $1 for catalog to
MARAUDER'S ARMY SURPLUS, 8588 McKee Road, Upatoi.
GA31829.‘

WWII WAR SOUVENIRS! Includes daggers, swords, helmets,
everything! Illustrated catalog $10 (refundable). DISCO, Box
331-X, Cedarburg, Wl 53012. (107) _

WWII GERMAN MILITARIA: Insignia, flags, medals, uni-
forms, daggers, camouflage, books. World's biggest catalog,
including 2 large posters; $2, KRUPPER MILITARIA, Box
177SF, Syracuse, NY 13208. (101)

FIREWORKS, High Quality, Fast Service. Price list $1.
MOUNTAIN STATES NOVELTY, P.O. Box 90007, Casper,
WY 82609, (104)

COVERT INTELLIGENCE—for the clever man of action.
Samples $2, $13/year — $17 overseas. HORIZONE, Box 67,
St. Charles, MO 63302, USA. (101)

KNUCKS—Genuine brass paperweights. Not cheap alumi¬
num. $7 postpaid. Immediate shipment. MATTHEWS POLICE
SUPPLY, PO Box 1754, Matthews, NC 28105. (108)

BOUNTY HUNTING— Legal for anyone and very profitable!
For legal statutes and employment information send $2 and
SASE. Rush orders $3 cash. RESEARCH UNLIMITED, Box
90, Depew, NY 14043. (97) _

THE INTELLIGENCE UBRARY — Many unusual, informative
books on Electronic Surveillance, Weapons. Investigations,
Documents, etc. Free Brochures: MENTOR, Dept. G-2, 135-
53 Northern Blvd., Flushing, NY 11354. (98)

BRITISH MILITARIA. Royal Air Force, Royal Navy, Royal
Marines, Parachute Regiment, S.A.S., Insignia, Head-
wear, Badges, Uniforms, Medals, Boer War Helmets, etc.
Send $2 for catalog. BRITISH COLLECTIBLES LTD., Dept. A.
2113 Wilshire Blvd,, Santa Monica, CA 90403. (107)

GENUINE U.S. MEDALS—Collect/U.S./Foreign Decorations.
FASCINATING NEW HOBBY. Silver Star— $50; Bronze
Star— $35; Armed Forces Expeditionary— $15; Vietnam Ser¬
vice— $15; Vietnam Campaign/Sterfing Yearbar— $35; Add
Stamp In trade and $4 postage. Most other medals available.
SASE FOR FREE LIST. MARTIN LEDERMANN, 21 Naples
Road, Brookline, MA 02146. (617) 731-0000. (107)

SERVE FEDERAL SUBPOENAS PART-TIME. Must be over
18 and US citizen! Details $2. PROCESS SERVER, Box 222-
F, Quincy, MA02171. (96)

LATEST MODEL 6 SHOT

ITALIAN AUTOMATIC TEAR GAS GUN

ONLY

$7°“

POSTPAID

r

\

Fires 22 cal. tear

S as or blank ammo.

olid metal. 6 shot clip ’ 1 —v

fed. Rapid firing. With in- \

structions & free cleaning rod.

For self-protection, theatre; dog I
training, sports. Purchaser must .

be over 21. Money back guarantee. "^ h0i

WESTBURY SALES CO, California,
w P.0.80X 434, Dept TA-10-SF, Wwtbury, New York 11590

FIREWORKS— Firecrackers, Rockets, Roman Candles,
much morel Low prices. Highest quality. Shipped year-round
to all states. Illustrated catalog— $1. EAGLE FIREWORKS,
Dept. 3G, Box 800, Clackamas, OR 97015. (104-485)

SMOKE GENERATING DEVICES (candles, bombs, pots,
grenades) - largest most complete selection with capacities
from four thousand to one-half million cubic feet cf dense
smoke. Excellent for smoke screens, dispersing crowds, sig¬
naling, fire drills, etc. All fresh and fully guaranteed. Also flare
guns, tear gas aerosols, chemicals, military knives, handcuffs,
exotic information, and much more. Send $2 (refundable with
order) for catalogue. SIGNUS, Box 33712-K5, Phoenix, AZ
85067. (96)_

PRIVATE MAIL and Answering Service. For the professional
person on the move who wishes to remain unknown and needs
a particular service: daily sorting and forwarding, copy service,
aand clipping. It pays not to miss a phone call or a letter.
Phones manned 24 hours for the convenience of our custom¬
ers. Monthly mailing list upon request. If you feel you need a
service such as this contact DEBBIE at (615)436-9785 (Day),
or write: DEBBIE, Rt 2, Box 682 Village Loop Road, Gattinburg,
TN 37738. (97-485)._

GUN FOR HIRE: 37-year old professional mercenary desires
jobs. Vietnam Veteran. Discreet and very private. Bodyguard,
courier, and other special skills. All jobs considered. Phone
(615)436-9785 (Days), or write: Rt. 2, Box 682 Village Loop
Road, Gatllnburg, TN 37738. (97-485)

DISCOUNT MILITARY FOOD RATIONS. Free catalogue.
MRE full meals, MRE components, other outdoor/survival food
items. RFCG, Box 1438, Largo, FL 34294. (813)535-7192.
( 9 ?) _

SMOKE PRODUCTS — Grenades, pots, bombs at unusually
low prices. Buy from the source and save. Send self-
addressed stamped envelope for details. SOUTHWEST
SMOKE DISTRIBUTORS, Box 5,414, Phoenix, AZ 85010. (96)

“RANGER TRAINING MANUAL”

(FM 21-50 — 1962 Large Edition)

NOW ONLY $7.00 Postpaid

Free book catalog on request
Send Cash, Check or M.O. to:

“THE GREAT KEN HALE ”

P.O. Box 395, McDonald, Ohio 44437-0395

CUSTOM EMBROIDERED PATCHES. Five-patch minimum.
Your design, any size, shape, colors. Guaranteed. HEIN, Dept.
303, 4202 N. Drake. Chicago, IL 60618. (97) _

SPECIAL FORCES VIDEO TAPES. Operational Techniques
FM31-20. FIVE SEPARATE TAPES. Tape 1: Intelligence &
Psychological Operations; 2: Infiltration & Planning; 3: Air Op-
erations-Communications; 4: Water Operatsons-Ccmmunica-
tions; 5: Demolition-Engineering-Medical Aspects of SF Op¬
erations. VHS only. $29.95 each plus $2.95 shipping & han¬
dling. SELF RELIANCE GROUP, 316 California Ave., Ste 206,
Reno, NV 89509. (96) _ a _

RECON, THE ROLE-PLAYING GAME of the Vietnam War,
$10; The Haiphong Hale , $3.50; Hearts & Minds, $3.50; San
Sued, $5; Sayaret/Track Commander, $5.98. RPG, INC., Box
1560-A, Alvin , TX 77512. (96)

BUSHPILOT WINGS

85.95 RHODIUM

CATALOG WITH PURCHASE

P.O. Box 20378 • Dallas, TX 75220

GERMAN 2-SIDED Camouflage reversible smocks. Exact
WWII copy. Best quality 100% cotton drill. Type-one smocks
postage paid USA-CANADA. Postal money orders only.
Forest $94, mottled $99,5/6 overprint $120. Splinter reversible
to white $105. Others Autumn/Spring. Spetify over/under
tall? Matching hoods, M43 Field caps available. Five different
German 53" camouflage fabrics available. 15/22-cent US
stamps for illustrated list/samples. BL OTOOLE, PO Box
64385, Tacoma, 98464. (206)565-1951. (101-2) _

FREE VfETNAM CATALOG. Combat Tapes, T-shirts, Docu¬
ments, Rags, much more. Enclose 20-cent stamp to: BIEN
HOA PRODUCTIONS, Box 56 (Dept. SFZ), Fayetteville, AR
72702. (97) _

"DISCREET MAIL RECEIVING and forwarding. Services tai-
lored to individual needs. EXECUTIVE ADDRESSES, 1616 -
17th Street, Suite M-76, Denver, CO 80202.

SAVANT FOR HIRE: Professional investigator, bodyguard,
armed escort, bondsman, and bounty-hunter. Also have
knowledge of military and counter-terrorism. Am an expert of
weapons and demo. Prefer Central America. SAVANT, PO
Box 348, Athens, GA 30601. (99)

108 SOIJHEK OF FORTUNE

OCTOBER 85

CHOOSE YOUR WEAPONS WELL.*

COMBAT HANDGUNNERY

From the basics to competition
training with diagrams and how to
shoot courses. Covers the Bianehi
Cup, Steel Challenge and World
Championships.

$1095

MILITARY
SMALL ARMS

OF THE aoTH CENTURY
The standard reference in it’s field,
loo's of firearms 60cal. or less.
Pistols, submachlneguns, automatic
and anti-tank rifles.New trends in

the small arms field. Fully illust¬
rated.

$l4.9S

SEND CHECK OR MONEY ORDER, OR VISA OR MASTER
CARD ACCT.NO. TO:

G.I. LTD.

33 WINROCK,SUITE 501b
ALBUQUERQUE,N.AL. 87110

PLEASE ENCLOSE SX-00 FOR SHIPPING

STATE PISTOL LAWS, regulations for all states and Federal
Gun Laws, both $4. Police Catalog $2. SCHLESSINGER, PO
Box 882. NY, NY 10150._

INVENTIONS, IDEAS, NEW PRODUCTS WANTED for pres¬
entation to industry and exhibition at national Innovation ex¬
position. Call (800)528-6050. Arizona, (800)352-0458. X831.
(107)_

PRIVACY—CONFIDENTIAL MAIL. Forwarding/receiving.
Code name fine, street address, phone available. SASE.
ORLANDO MAIL DROP, Box 18039-SF8, Orlando. FL 32860.
(100)_

LAW BADGES AND PATCHES send $1 for list or $6 for 12
monthly lists. BPEC, Dept. SF1284, Los Alamrtos, CA 90720.
(98)_

REMAILING: West Germany. $2 includes postage. Confiden¬
tial forwarding, receiving, holding. Free brochure. TWG, Post-
fach 1145, 6460-M, Gelnhausen, West Germany. (100)

“SECRET PEN GUN”— .22 cal. you construct with ordinary
tools and materials. Very easy to do. Copyrighted, guaranteed.
Rush now, $4.95. PLANS, Box 1650(e), Carolina, PR 00630.
(? 6 )_^_

Gl DOG TAGS, chains. Embossed to your specs—max 5 lines
of 15 characters. Stainless $3 set, black oxide $5 set. Shipped
1st class, same day. SASE for brochure. ARCHER, 3584
Haven, Redwood City, CA 94063.

FINALLY AVAILABLE, MACVSOG belt buckles, solid brass
and beautifully engraved with the famous MACVSOG South¬
east Asia Battle Insignia. Handmade and limited in number.
$12.95 plus $1.50 postage. THE DELTA TEAM, 108 North
Main, Suite 6, Sebastopol, CA 95472. (96)_

ARMY FIELD RADIOS: CPRC-26 Infantry Manpack Radio,
compact, transmlts-receives 46-54 MHz FM, 6 channels, with
battery box, anlenna, crystal, handset: $22.50 apiece, $42.50/
pr, good condition. PRC-9 Backpack Radio, factory mint, trans-
mits-receives 28-39 MHz FM continuous tuning: $52.50
apiece, $77.50 with good-condition battery box, antenna,
handset. PRC-510 Backpack Radio (Canadian version of
American PRC-10), transmits-receives 38-55 MHz FM con¬
tinuous tuning, with battery box, antenna, handset: $39.50
apiece, $77.50/pair, good condition. R-390A Communications
Receiver, .5-32 MHz AM-CW-SSB, shortwave, amateur, mili¬
tary frequencies: $175 good condition. R-108 Military Vehicle/
Field Receiver, 20-28 MHz-FM: $27.50 mint. 45-day replace¬
ment guarantee. Add $9.50 shipping-handling. BAYTRON-
ICS, Dept. SOF. Box 591, Sandusky, OH 44870. (96)

UNIQUE

CATALOG

CATALOG

SECURITY

&

MILITARY

New 1985-86 edition
now available!

This 40-page mail-order
catalog features quality
military and security equip¬
ment at discount prices.
Many items in it you will not
•• find in any other catalogs!

Includes U.S., British and Israeli equipment and clothing,
personal defense products, police equipment, surveillance
electronics, tear gas/smoke grenades, telephone devices,
knives, flashlights, optics, military manuals, survival pro¬
ducts, genuine military clothing and much more. Discount
prices, free shipping, unique selection, fast service. This
4Dpage catalog is an essential catalog for all SOF readers.
Price Is $2, deductable from first order.

ALCAN, INC., P.O. Box 2187, Bellingham, WA 98227

DO YOU NEED A BUSINESS ADDRESS for all purposes in
West Germany? Strictly confidential. Here we are! MANAGE¬
MENT CONSULTANT M. JUNGHANS, Hermann-Brill, Str. 8,
D-6200, Wiesbaden. Tel: 06121-467726. (96-465) _

ADJUSTER. Selective^ effective. BILL STRINGFELLOW

(602)866-8060. (97-485)_

HBO DESCRAMBLER PLANS. Complete and easily fol¬
lowed. $3. STEVENS PUBLISHING COMPANY, Dept. SOF,
Box 20286. Bowling Green. KY 42102-6286. (101)

FREE KUNG FU LESSONS. Guaranteed satisfaction. Send
$1 for postage McLISA, PO Box 1755, Dept SF85-J, Honolulu,
HI 96806. (101-485)_

ARMY SURPLUS AND MORE. Complete line Army surplus,
gun accessories, knives, police, ninja, and survival supplies.
Send $1 (refundable) for price list. HUGH WADE’S OAK-
SHIRE PLACE, Hiway 51 South, Union City, TN 38261.
(901)885-6851. (QB)_

VIETNAM LISTING (with tree "Vietnam photos”) $2. WWII
Listing $2. RAY BUNTING'S PHOTOS, Rt 1, Box 154, Mifford,
DE 19963. (99)

DIVORCE DIRTY TRICKS. Fight smart! Protect property. Win
custody you want. Sharpest tactics. New 228-pg. book $14.95.
Guaranteed. Details 20 cents. EDEN, Box 8410-DD, Fountain
Valley, CA 92728. (98-485)_

SECRET MAILBOX. Send and receive mail confidentially.
Dependable, professional service. Details, long SASE. PRI¬
VATE POSTMAN, Box 87210(S), San Diego, CA 92138. (96)

LOCKSMITHING, general & automotive. Unlimited informa¬
tion— $2 (unconditionally refundable if unsatisfied).
L.A.N.D.I.S., 633 Post St. No. 1048F, San Francisco, CA
94109. (103-485)_

COMBAT HISTORY ON VIDEO CASSETTE! WWII, Korea,
Vietnam. Over 70 programs. Free list for SASE. CMI. PO Box
40461C, Nashville, TN 37204. (99)

MILITARY HISTORY

ON VIDEOCASSETTES

See military history as it happened! World
Vfar 1 throw^i the Falkland* compoign. The
other side of World 11; arighia! German
combat newsreels and features of the great
battles. Rare Allied Army and Air Force documentaries. Also Korea, Vietnam,
and contemporary Soviet Army. Over 300 titles reproduced from original source
materials. Beta/VHS, also PAL Standard. Reasonable prices, fast service. Write
or phone for free illustrated catalog. INTERNATIONAL HISTORIC FILMS,
Sort 29035, Chicago, Illinois 60629, Phone 312-436 8051.

WILD GEESE SELECTION. Customized gold-plated
emblems for adventurers of distinction. Brochure $1, refund¬
able. THE WILD GEESE, Postfach 1145,6460-B Gelnhausen,
West Germany. (96)

NEW UPDATED CATALOG every 2 months! The best new
books on martial arts, weaponry, self-defense, survival and
revenge! Send $1 to PALADIN PRESS. PO Box 1307-JSO,
Boulder, CO 60308. (107)

MAIL PRIVACY! Confidential mail forwarding/remailing. For
details write: POSTAL SHOPPE, 369 East 900 South, Salt
Lake City, UT 84111. (96)

T-SHIRT, Hat set, Airborne Wings — "Death From Above"
shirt $8.50, Hat $5.95. Prepaid, check to: SSP, PO Box 5017.
Springfield. VA22150. (97)

MICROTRON Surveillance Security Equipment— ("World’s
Greatest Selection!" Law Enforcement Review, 1980.)
Crystal-controlled VHF TRANSMITTERS, TRACKERS, RE¬
CORDERS, NIGHTVIEWERS and COUNTERMEASURES
... "virtually impossible to obtain elsewhere!!!" Professionals
catalog $20, refundable. General catalog $2, Send orders to:
MICROTRON, 42-38th St., Wheeling, WV 26003. Visa/Mas-
terCard cardholders call: (304)233-8007. (103)_

SMOKY MOUNTAIN KNIFE WORKS has over 1 million
knives and cutlery items at wholesale prices. $2 gets you our
giant catalog by 1st class mail. THE KNIFE CATALOG, PO
Box 714SOF, Sevierviile, TN 37862. (97)

G.I. SURPLUS: A brand-new list of military items (new &
used), includes clothing, knives, footwear, fieldgear, manuals,
etc. Send $1 to: THE SUPPLY SERGEANT, Dept. SF, 3095
Hwy 20, Buford, GA 30518. (96)

NEW UPDATED CATALOG of unusual books on Martial Arts,
weaponry, home workshop guns, creative revenge, survival
plus much morel $1. PALADIN PRESS, PO Box 1307-KMV,
Boulder, CO 80306. (1Q7-485)

OWN YOUR OWN MOUNTAIN CAMPSITE. 20 miles from
Reno, Nevada. THIS IS NOT ATIMESHARE. Only $300 each.
In 100 mountainous acres. GEMINI WILDERNESS, 1355 N.
McCarran, Reno, NV 89512. (97)_

AIRBORNE/ELITE BOOKS our specialty. Also, Vietnam
material. List $1. THE BATTERY PRESS. INC., PO Box
3107C, Uptown Station, Nashville. TN 37219. (97)

EAST GERMAN Communist "Ausweis" Cards In Russian/
German with Soviet seal. Unissued, room for photo. Origin
unknown. $6. D. EWING, Box 993, Montpelier, VT 05602. (96)

NOW AVAILABLE!

TheOri S InaI ADVENTURER , s ^

BULLWHIP

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4 TO 6 WS( DQ/VBtt
NO HASSLES • NO DEAYS

— rflre^jn nau am . CATUEn BCIT i-iochco ac

HOT! THESE BUUWH1PS
AHE HOT TOTS * HOT CHEAP
EOflEIGH MADE SOUVENIRS
THEY ARE GENUINE

maftllM BganB mml

LEATHER BELT CARRIER $6.95
• A FORMOASLE SURVIVAL TOOL •

When Swung Property. WHITE BOGY Makes
the TPOI the ADVENTURER'S BULLWHP* HOVE

WFffTPflsmW,

* WMP-HANDUNG Instructions Included
The WHIST QUALITY. TOUGHEST BUU.WWS
Available - Pertectty BALANCED For ACCURACY.

. __JC*BJ1» 887-0800

CATTLE BARON LEATHER CO.
P.O. BOX 100724 D*pt. SOF-10
SAN ANTONIO. TEXAS 78201

MERCENARIES WANTED: Are you a military veteran, or
experienced in the areas of security, investigative, bodyguard
or mercenary? Then the IMA is for you. The IMA is a world¬
wide organization composed of some of the world’s best spe¬
cialists. Our organization is dedicated to helping professionals
obtain employment. $20 membership fee covers lifetime
fraternity membership. 1 -year active employment file, and cer¬
tificate for framing. No obligation. IMA, Box 232, Shrewsbury,
PA 17361. (97)_

ITALIAN STILETTOS! Here’s one for your collection. 13”
overall. 6" polished-steel blade, positive front lock, dark handle
only, $18.95. 9" overall stiletto, polished-steel blade, positive
front lock, dark or white handles, $10.95. Include $2 postage
and handling, DUFFY ENTERPRISES, PO Box L Dept SR,
Bayville, NJ 0B721. (97-Ad 1)_

CUSTOM IMPRINTED CAPS- We print anylhing! No mini-
mum8! Free brochure. CUSTOM CAP CO., Box 341B, West¬
minster, MD 21157. (98)

MILITARY SURPLUS— Chemical/biological warfare equip¬
ment, military clothing, equipment, decorations. Self-
addressed stamped (39 cents) envelope for catalog. JR
SALES, Box 4253F, Lancaster, CA 93539-4253._

NEED TOTAL MAIL PRIVACY? Complete personaLbusiness
service. Many privacy services/products. Write! SMS-SF9,
Box 3179, Tempe, A2 85281. (96)

FOR HIRE: Ex-Paratrooper, team leader (long range patrol),
rangers (instructor), 3 tours Viet Nam, scuba, seeks employ¬
ment in related field. Will train-lead-organize. Preference given
to Central America or will consider Body Guard/Courier Ser¬
vice. Not a cowboy! Send phone number or details. Passport.
Bondable. Principals only! CROSSBOW, Box 15424, Colora-
do Springs, CO 60935. (101)_

RHODESIAN/SOUTH AFRICAN War Books unobtainable in
USA. Write: GALAGO PUBLISHING. PO Box 404. Alberton
1450, South Africa, for free catalog, (96)

pisx 1 -.. HHJbucku

this 4-color raised ’—
design heavy metal buckle size 2^x3^ in¬
ches. Send only $6.95 plus $1.05 postage
& handling... total $8.00 per buckle. Sorry
no c.o.d.s. R. I. residents add 6% soles fax.
10-DAY MONEY v \\\ HI /

BACK GUARAN-
TEE. Fast ship- '
ment, in business " '/
since 1972.

DEALERS WANTED

Use this handy order formVprSsSf^O^

P ■■■■■■■■■■■■■■

n Anchor Specialties Co.

[ P.O.BOX 3958, DEPT.SOF.NORTH PROVIDENCE, R. I. 02911

l I enclose $_for-.Vietnam Veteran

I Buckles or charge my QVisa □ Mastercard

I Card No._Expires_

I Name_

! Address__ ,

LCity_

Sfate

-Zip_

OCTOBER 85

SOLIHIsll OF FORTUNE 109

UZI RECOIL COMPENSATOR: Specify carbine or pistol: $25.
Will make for most firearms. Send stamp for information. JJN,
PO Box 215, Clifton, VA 22024. (96)

AWESOME OFFER: Chaplain psychic mercenary reveals top
secret government report SDA 86-2020. Events to come, in¬
formation, PKG dates, places et cetera. SCIENTIFIC DATA
—be prepared— SURVIVAL! $5 plus 50 cents postage. MO to:
CHAPLAIN COL. CICERO A. COCCH1, Cicero Int'l Ministry,
6622 Parker Square Drive, PO Box 106, Parker, CO 00134.
WRITE TODAY. (98)

KNIVES, BLOWGUNS, Martial Arts. Now available at
wholesale pnces. Large illustrated catalog. $2 refundable with
order. SPECIAL CUTLERY, 1104 Lee, Dept. SF, Des Plaines,
IL 60016. (100-405)

DOG TAGS, GENUINE Gl—• Commando black or stainless
steel. Free brochure. Send stamped envelope. KAUFMAN’S
ARMY NAVY GOODS, Dept. A-810, 1660 Eubank NE, Albu¬
querque. NM 67112. (95)_

RAY-BAN SUNGLASSES— 25% off list prices. Also USAF
NASA pilot sunglasses. All genuine! Toll-free ordering and
immediate shipment Send self-addressed stamped envelope
for free brochure. KAUFMAN S ARMY NAVY GOODS, Dept.
A-910, 1660 Eubank NE, Albuquerque, NM 87112. (95)

CAMOUFLAGE TIES! A must for every well-dressed out-
doorsman. Genuine military-issue woodland cloth. Choose:
pointed end or straight fold...$9.95 each; 2 for $18.95. Add
shipping: $2 1st tie; 2 or more $3. KAUFMAN’S ARMY NAVY
GOODS, Dept. A-310. 1660 Eubank NE. Albuquerque, NM
87112. (95)__

PRIVACY CATALOG FREE! Discover latest low-profile tech¬
niques. Avoid banks, taxes, surveillance. Hide assets. Secret
loans, identity, financial privacy. EDEN PRESS, Box 0410-SR,
Fountain Valley, CA 92728. (98)

FREE MONEY SOLUTIONS CATALOG! Get new credit, jobs,
degrees. Home businesses. Cash income opportunities.
EDEN, Box 8410-SP, Fountain Valley, CA 92720. (98-485)

CASSETTES: German Marches, 60-minute. $8 each; 3 for
$19.50; all 9 for $49.50. Send SASE for list. HAMMER, Box
1393-SF, Columbus, IN 47201. (90)

m*hii

MILITARY MEDALS

WORLD WAR II * KOREA * VIETNAM

Full Size U.S. and Vietnamese Medals. Ribbons,
Badges, Fine Display Cases, Miniature Medals,
Personal Service, Display tbe valuable Medals
awarded yo u or your family. Gua ranteed I

FREE CATALOG !<> jQp|
WRITE TODAY! *- MEDAlS , BOX"l6279SF

FT HARRISON P.0. INDIANAPOLIS. IN 46216-9998

FI REWORKS— Fun, safe, patriotic; top quality, lowest prices,
illustrated catalogue $1 (refundable). PYRO-SONIC DE¬
VICES, Box 711-SI10, Grand Haven, Ml 49417. (98)

CUSTOM EMBROIDERED EMBLEMS— Enameled pins,
your design, low minimum, excellent quality, low prices, free
booklet. A.T. PATCH & CO M Dept. 133, Littleton, NH 03561.
(603)444-3423. (98)_ ______

GERMAN 2-SIDED camouflage reversible smocks. Exact
WWII copy. Best quality 100% cotton drill. Type-one smocks
postage paid USA-CANADA. Postal Money Orders only.
Forest— $94, Mottled— $99, 5/6 overprint— $120. Splinter
reversible to white— $105, others Autumn/Spring. Specify
over/under 5'9" tall? Matching hoods, M43 Field Caps avail¬
able. Five different German 53" camouflage fabrics available.
15/22-cent U.S. stamps for illustrated Irst/samples. B.L.
OTOOLE, PO Box 64305, Tacoma 98464, (206)565-1951
(1QM)__

EMBLEMS CUSTOM EMBROIDERED, any quantity.
THREAD LETTER EMBROIDERY CORPORATION, Dept.
SF, 1929 East 52nd Street. Indianapolis, IN 46205. (317)257-
1424 (Qfl) __

VIETNAM, KQREA, WWH Veterans' Certificates. Colored,
10x13 with gold seal. $9.95,2for $14.95. LOGSDON. Box 235,
Milpitas. C A 95035 (98) _

RGCkVmQUNTAIN COMMANDO SCHOOL 1st para¬

chute-jump training, advanced freefall techniques, weapons,
survival, scuba—complete course by Special Forces and
Ranger instructors. To reserve a date contact: PO BOX 963,
Hotchkiss, CO 81419. (98) _

RED DAWN I NOT HERE! Join the North American Defense
Assoc. Agos 16-65. Send $3 for Application & Info. N.A.D.A.,
PO Box 889, Paradise. CA 95969. (96)

S.A.S.

RAIN
CHOKER

Stylish & practical, these
chokers proved their value
with the British Assault
Forces during the Falkland
War. Made of toweling cotton,
the cravat is designed to keep
out the worst weather, Avail, in
British Army Field Green, Red
or Blue.

Copy of original
Bnlish Army purchase
order FREE with each Choker

$

7.50

ADD 1.75 P&H

VISA, M/C,

AMEX, DC.
check or
money order

1

(N.J. (201) 851-2450)

RATCATCHERS, USA

_ Dept. SF-10B

600 N. Union Ave. Hillside, N.J. 07205

REGULATION INSIGNIA: All Military branches and Police. All
genuine, over 1000 items: rank, wings, badges, mini-medals,
NASA patches, military goods, plus much much more. Catalog
$2. KAUFMAN S ARMY NAVY GOODS, Dept. A-510, 1660
Eubank NE, Albuquerque, NM 87112.

MILITARY GOODS CATALOG— Over 70 pages. Camou¬
flage jackets, pants, caps, berets. Over 1000 insignia’s,
genuine Gl $2. KAUFMAN S ARMY NAVY GOODS, Dept
A-210, 1660 Eubank NE, Albuquerque, NM 07112,

M-60 FIRECRACKERS $15 per 100, M-IOOs $20 per 100.
Postage $2. SUPPLY, PO Box 1861, Murfreesboro, TN 37133.
(97)

FOR HIRE: 2 Ex-Merc/Bodyguards wilt collect debts or handle
other projects for you. No amount too large, high risk OK.
Travel nationwide, vast exp., East and West Coast. Strictly
confidential, reply: COLLECTORS, PO Box 1734, Smyrna, GA
30081. (96) ____

STICK IT to high-cost retailers. Our low overhead means low
prices for quality survivat/military/camping equipment. For $2
we will send you our 64-page catalog, mailed 1 st class, offering
over 650 items, from combat knives to tent pegs. VARIETY
MERCHANDISE, Dept. X, PO Box 319, Merrick, NY 11566.
(96)_ ’ __

MINI-MAGS $16.95 includes shipping and nylon sheath. Com¬
plete line of Mag-lite accessories and products. Free informa¬
tion. Dealers inquire. Knives & Survival. GREAT LAKES DIS¬
TRIBUTING, 600 West Orange Street, Greenville, Ml 48838.

W) ___

ITALIAN STILETTOS! 9" overall, poiished-steel blade, posi¬
tive front lock. Black or white handles. $10.95 plus $2 postage
and handling. $1 for catalog. DUFFY ENTERPRISES, PO Box
102, Dept. SF-1, BayvIHe, NJ 06721. (97-2)_

MILITARY POLICE: Send SASE for prices on shirts, hats,
patches, buckles, etc. MEAN STREETS, Dept. SOF, Box 60,
Boston, MA 02123. (98)

CAVALRY
SLOUCH

from the Amer.

West to the DMZ

Made of quality black fur felt with a leather
sweat band and dbl. stitched rim, this hat is
like those worn by chopper pilots in Nam.
Avail, in sizes 7, Vk, rh.

with sabre
inslg. & cord

$ 56

ppd.

without

insig. & cord ppd.

“AFRIKA KORPS”
STYLE M-43

FIELD HATS

Quality made and lully lined in Woodland,
Day Desert or Tiger atrip*, Night Desert,
Cammo. Also avail, in Black or Khaki, Field
Grey. Sizes: 5-M-L-XL. $26.50 PP d.

111. catalog 1.50 or Free w/order

MILITARIA INC.

138 Kearny Ave., Dept. SF
Kearny, N.J. 07032 (201) 998-7471

“HOW TO KEEP YOUR PET from being poisoned’’ booklet
A— $2.50 postpaid. C. J. CHAPMAN, Box 410, Aripeka, FL
33502. (96)

POLICE, FIRE, MILITARY, Aircraft Radio Scanners —lowest
prices— all brands. Send name and address for free subscrip¬
tion to discount catalogue from the largest dealer of scanners
in the world. SCANNER WORLD. 10-SF New Scotland,
Albany, NY 12200. (518)436-9606. (99)

KICKING SPIKES— Be prepared! Ideal personal defense
when logging or anytime. Spikes 20-gauge steel, worn unseen
under shoelaces. Pairs black ($14.95), gray, white, navy, rust
($15.95). Postage and handling $2. Check or money order:
DEFENSE SYSTEMS, PO Box 297/SF, Awendaw, SC 29429-
0297.(96)

ORIGINAL CIA black book of improvised weapons, 2 giant
volumes reduced to pocket size. $11.95 ppd. GROUND
ZERO, PO Box 335, Croton, OH 43013. (96)_

UNUSUAL BOOK OFFER — Save up to 20% and more,
discount. Famous publishers: Paladin Press, Loompanics,
many others! Over 400 titles and growing — exotic weaponry,
explosives, military subjects, total self-defense, privacy, wire¬
tapping, credit, outdoor skills, knives, crime, survival, surveil¬
lance, disguises, investigations, home security, compromising
machines, silencers, mail order, publishing, employment, law,
fireworks, divorce tricks, acting, government surplus, intelli¬
gence gathering, chemistry and MUCH MORE! Money-back
guaranteed. Hefty Collectors Edition Catalog $2. Largest
selection for LESS! AUTHORS WANTED. ALPHA PUBLICA¬
TIONS, PO Box 92-S, Sharon Center, OH 44274. (100)

US MILITARY INSIGNIA: 1000s in stock, 1940 thru Vietnam.
Large catalog $1 — refunded. SAUNDERS, Box 414-SF,
Vermilion, OH 44009-0414. (90)

SURVIVAL FOOD. Delicious and nutritious with NO preserva¬
tives and 5-year shelf life without refrigeration. Send $5 for
sample products and information. RANDY HOOVER, Rt4, Box
114, Mondoul, Wl 54755. (96)

rSTUN GUN TORTURE! i

As Stun Guns are outlawed, only outlaws will have j
them! Protect yourself from Stun Gun Attacks.

] Detailed plans show how inexpensive materials can j
be used to eliminate the effects of a Stun Gun.
I assault! Rush $9.95 to EJM Defense, P.0. Box'
| 2607, Fall River, MA 02722 (Guaranteed delivery |
^within 4-6 weeks).

CIVILIAN MILITARY ASSISTANCE provides direct support to
the Nicaraguan Freedom Fighters. Please send a “Contra-
bution" today to: CMA, PO Box 3012, Decatur, Alabama,
35602. (96)_

EXOTIC ELECTRONIC Devices (Lasers, Security and Sur¬
veillance) plans, kits and parts, catalog $2. F&P ENTER¬
PRISES, PO Box 51272, Palo Alto CA 94303-C. (96)

SHOOT .22LR’s IN YOUR MINI-14

NEW PRICE
$129,95 + $3.00

CtrilMI Clwtl. Mtiit (Mff.C.O.D. <FI» Until)

1 iln J09D Higsttan K3 M «. - Orttf Oifict • No FFL Riqolrtd
Tv Add ICtoul lilimtliOT Sim SI .00
JONATHAN ARTHUR OENER. INC.

■ sreciAinr moovcts-'

6850 Rlveredge, Drive. Titusville. FL 32780 (305) 260-1921

ILLUSTRATED CATALOGS FREE for 12 months! Throwing
knives, Hawks, Survival. $1.50 postage to V.S.I.P., 1422 Del
Norta Drive, Corona CA 91719. (9?)

WANTED: Serious persons for our Exotic Weapons, Books
and Accessories Special Pricinq and Evaluation Program. De¬
tails: WARRIOR S WORLD OF EXOTIC WEAPONS, PO Box
58, Hartville, OH 44632. (96)____

Gl SURPLUS, Hunting and camping equipment 56-page
catalog, $2. RED BANK ARMY NAVY, 12F Monmouth Street,
Rod Bank NJ 077Q1. (96)_

CRIMEF1GHTERS send $2 for Police Catalog. B-PEC, Dept.
SP1184, Box 444, Los Aiamitos CA 90720. (105)

PRIVATE INVESTIGATOR/ Security Consultant now avail¬
able. Extensive civilian and military assignments in Vietnam,
Cuba, Iran and the Middle East since 1951. Nurtured and
raised by the US Army Security Agency, Office of Naval Intelli¬
gence and several other peculiar companies and associations.
Call ED in Boston and let’s talk: (617)242-4816. (97)

FEDERAL FIREARMS License Kit. $4 (refundable)! Applica¬
tions, instructions, wholesalers, supplies, salesftpst LONE’S,
Box 39B(FN), El Segunric, CA 90245._

SOG-CIA CARD. Famous “Get Out of Jail Free ’’ Vietnam spy
ID. $2 (3 for $5). LONE’S, Box 99B(FJ), El Segundo, CA
90245.

110 SOLIHER OF FORTUNE

OCTOBER 85

BUTTERFLY KNIVES

The Folding BALISONG
knives originated in the
Philipines-used bytheirfight-
ing forces. Now made into
fine quality hunting knives.

The blade is of surgical
steel. The butterfly design
protects the working por¬
tion of the knife. A lever
locks the handle securely <
in the open or closed posi- £
tion.

Model K98-P

$ 8 50 Ea.
and *1 50
UPS charges

WESTBURY SALES CO. DEPT. P-10-SF

373 Maple Avenue, Westbury, New York 11590

SPECIAL FORCES British, Commonwealth Medal, Cloth In¬
signia, Regimental, Divisional Patches and Titles. Send $2 for
illustrated lists, generous dealers discounts. J. TENNIS-
WOOD, 28, Gordon Road, Aldershot, Hants GU11 1ND. ENG¬
LAND. (98)

SECURITY: If you have a problem, you need us. Alarms,
Patrols, Investigations and Courier duties. We are very dis¬
creet on ‘ confidential" matters. Contact RVG SECURITY
SERVICES, PO Box 427, Ossipee, NH 03864. (603)539-4206.
(96)

W.W. II COLLECTORS OVER 40,000 ITEMS

German • Hats-Badges-Medala and U.S. Offi¬
cer’s Cap (new from original U.S.
maker), Ian with brown leather vis¬
or, chin strap and U.S. Eagle pin.

State size S, M, or Lg.156.00

Have tew Olive Drab, Wool...$85.00
We pay postage Our 224 page fully illus-
_____ trated catalog S3 00 (FREE with order).

W.W. #2 Ltd., Box 2063-F St. Louis. MO 83158

RANGER/AIRBORNE /Bodyguard Training Courses Catalog,
Details $2. CSTC-MtSSIONS GROUP, 2100 N. Broadway,
Suite 37, Santa Ana, CA 92706. (97)

HAVE GUN WILL TRAVEL: guns for hire. All jobs considered,
all communications are confidential, all work discreet. (1)
Strong security background, several years military experience:
US Marine Corps (Force Recon), US Army (Specialized Units).
(2) Vietnam Vet (Infantry), Sniper; and small arms expert.
Mercenary or military assignments preferred. Will do domestic
work. Valid passports for overseas assignments. Can work
individually, as 2-man team, or can use any number of contacts
throughout the US. New call sign: PALADIN, (716)436-4833 or
(716)663-4806 anytime. Or write: PO Box 19405, Rochester,
NY 14619. (98)

*'W. GERMAN Remailing Sendee. Send addressed letter and
$2 US for remailing from W. Germany for R. MERRILL, Esher-
stieimer, Landstr. 572, 6000 Frankfurt 1, W. Germany. Alter¬
nate address for receiving mail. For details send SASE. (98)

ISSUE

LCIMtiJira is

Gl SUPPLY R.R.#1BOX 782 Dept, soT
AUGUSTA.N J.07822
1 ' U.S. LARGE COMBAT

FIELD PACK

HW WITH FRAME uc 2 -itici pack)

$H8°o

I 3 SPECIAL

OtiJiRlI CBfttirt C I tuu* town! MiiMOn Model i|

in*** » ptcLeicipl it t Iwttt w« »od hit i IM|i 0 * t
octw* DOC Lets 'D nnjj invdt m *|i*» to jOorte"

C*C‘ if •* tiled «9 OWtitj Pick sot Lett FT toeaeltd to Uiff 1M
am) 01 He top itm Our pack n compete milt G I ftatne ttratn
Mo* Bril efc RoStepDD Rfkoe W>tl ce»r >0 Itu tavt

Send SI 00 for
200-item catalog.

Nona mi herti »e* tM ■

201 5-3252

NINJA TOOLS— authentic weaponry hand-crafted by certi¬
fied Ninja Black Belt Instructor. Send $1 for catalog to: SCOR¬
PION ENTERPRISES UNLTD., PO Box 774, Tucker, GA
30085-0774._

KNIVES: Huntsman hunting knives. Top quality, made of 420
stainless steel fastened to a genuine Rosewood handle by 3
stainless steel rivets, scabbard included, $12.95. CHRIS A.
BUTEHA SALES CO., PO Box 41-1174, Chicago, IL 60641.

BRITISH CAMOUFLAGE DPM parachutist smock wool cuffs,
current issue $100, DPM windproof SAS smock (the best
smock available) $135, DPM combat cap with peak $17.95,
DPM jungle boonie hat (size 57 or 58) $19.95, SAS beret with
insignia $24.95, parachute regiment maroon beret with insig-
nie $22.95, Foreign Legion parachutists green beret with insig¬
nia $22.95, Foreign Legion O.R.’s white Kepi $39.95. Russian
Army belt with brass buckle (genuine issue) $37.95. All items
postpaid, send $2 (refundable) for illustrated catalog of World
Special Forces Insignia to:AB.L, 10 Chatham Street. Rams¬
gate, Kent, ENGLAND. Telephone England: 843-602987.

KNIVES, swords, historic and related weapons. Also custom
handmade knives, your design or mine. Unbeatable prices. 3
catalogs $2. DEINTINISSF, 107 Summit Ave.,S.I., NY 10306.

M-16 JURYI Death Squad chases-down movie starlet political
radical June Wande in Vietnam adventure novel by Nik-
Uhernik, (No. 2 in controversial War Dogs series). Auto¬
graphed/serial-numbered, $5: LITTLE SAIGON LTD., Box
1528IF, N. Hollywood, CA 91615._

OVER 1,000 Vietnam-related clubs, organizations, publica¬
tions: $4; Hanoi Jane report: $5. ARC-LIGHT ENTERPRISES,
Box 3339F. Redondo Beach, CA 90277.

FREE BROCHURE J Largest selection of gun oriented T-shirts,
sweat shirts, caps. MAGNUM PRODUCTS, 8 Sandy Street, E.
Northport, NY 11731.__

SELF-DEFENSE, fully illustrated PRACTICAL combat
courses. UNARMED COMBAT: hard-hitting commando style,
superior techniques $8.95. BLADE: no-nonsense knife com¬
bat, guerrilla tactics $6.95, add $2 p/h. LIBRA ENTERPRISES,
486 (SF) Molimo, San Francisco, CA 92127.

CIA MAPS, US topographic maps, Defense Intelligence Agen¬
cy Manuals. Posters. $2 (refundable). D.R. JOHNSON, Hwy
21, Box 10-67. Wautoma, Wl 54982.

LEARN BASIC ROCK CLIMBING and Rappelling. Intensive
2-day course $100. For information write DARRELL, PO Box
3347, Boulder, CO 80307.

5 EXPICIT PHOTOS taken by US Soldier of Mussolini, mis-
tress and Henchmen's hanging, April 1945 Milan, Italy. $30
MO and self-addressed-stamped-envelope. MMH, PO Box
1043, Detroit Lakes, MN 56501. (98)

VIETNAM VET, “2nd place" polo-shirt, 100% cotton, pre¬
shrunk, 1st class mail, $9.50. J. & C. THOMPSON, PO Box
703, Cadillac, Ml 49601.

SURVIVAL KNIFE— 13“ modified Bowie with functional saw
teeth. 440c blade at 57-59 Rc. Camouflage, watertight hollow
handle & heavy cowhide sheath. Fully dressed with compass
in cap, stone & survival kit in handle. Sells elsewhere for $65,
now $55 plus $2 shipping. THE SURVIVOR’S EDGE, Box
16050-02, Shawnee, KS 66203. $2 US (refunded with order)
for illustrated pricelist. (96)

SURVIVAL

KNIFE

GUARANTEED 10 YEARS

DISCOUNT SALE! For the outdoorsman. A knife,
saw. hatchet, fish scaler and hammer.
Ftugged 9W" knife, 5” blade.

LAMINATED

leather handle.

Rich leather belt
sheath contains honing
stone, leg ties. Imported.

IF BROKEN WITHIN 10 YEARS WE WILL REPLACE FREE! Use
30 days, if not pleased return (or refund. REGULARLY $14.95.

NOW ONLY $7.95 PLUS $1.95 delivery. Send $9.90 today!
MIDWEST KNIFE CO., Dept. S-711, 9043 S. Western Ave.,

Chicago, IL 60620. Mail orders only. Our 48th year. (312) 446-6166
SPECIAL — 2 knives lor $18.00 prepaid.

FORBIDDEN FIGHTING techniques of the Ninja— let author
Ashida Kim assist you in your quest for knowledge of the Silent
Way! 8Vfex11, hardcover, 271 photos, 128 pp. Order now!
Send $22.95 to PALADIN PRESS, PO Box 1307-JOS, Boul¬
der, CO 80306.

MIND BOOSTER. Your mind is your most important weapon.
Research report, with dosage guide, covers compounds that
improve reaction time, memory and learning ability. Only $7.
Guaranteed. Invest in your survival. POLARIS, 405 Washing¬
ton Blvd.. Suite C, Oak Park, IL 60302.

WHO KILLED KENNEDY? Assassination research materials:
Zapuder film, video cassettes, photographs, literature avail¬
able. Catalog: $3. COLLECTOR’S ARCHIVES, Box 671, Hud¬
son, Quebec (107)

NEW

EXCALIBER
WAX PELLETS

• No gun powder or loading tools are
needed Shotgun primers provide the
power Pellets and pnmers are loaded
into re-usahte brass cases with finger-
pressure only

• Accuracy to 25 feet (2VF group)

• Speed-approximately half the velocity
of factory ammo

Specify caliber. .38 spl 9mm Luger
45 L.C .45 ACP 380 .41 mag 44 mag

• 500 Wax Pellets w/6 cases SI 2.96

• 100 Wax Pellets w/ 6 cases 96.00

Prepaid To Von

Send $1.00 for Catalog
of Special Weapons & Survival Aids.

M&M ENTERPRISES

P.O. Box 64, Dept. SOF
Island Lake, IL 60042

POLICE, SHERIFF’S, Fir© Department shoulder patches,
genuine, unused, multi-colored. Your choice, all different. 10/
$19, 20/S37, 50/$85 Extensive listing, military medals- $2.
REUBEN JENKINS, Box 2064-SOF, Columbus, GA 31902.
(?8)_

CONG CUFFS! Clever oriental design easily concealed,
quickly binds opponent without knots or keys. Genuine import,
still legal. Only $6.95. Includes multi-lingual instructions. 6-
weeks delivery. L.B. PROD., Box 2212, Billings, MT 69103.
(98)_

FOR HIRE: Ex-British Army Sgt., Infantry/Engineers/SAS, Ex¬
perienced jungle/desert/temperate, anti-terrorist/clandestine/
intelligence operations, seeks related position, short or long
term, hazardous okay, will travel, discreet, dependable.
SANDMAN, PO Box 2593, Medicine Hat, AB, CANADA T1A-
8GH.

EX-MARINE, Nam Vet seeks high-risk work. Complete discre¬
tion assured and expected. PO Box A3704, Chicago, IL 60690.

MERC FOR HIRE: All offers considered. Discreet, confidential
and effective. Send details to: MAX, PO Box 31003, Dayton,
OH 45431._

ATTENTION Macho Military men, especially "Rambo” types:
collector will pay for your photos. Send sample to: PO Box 585,
Palisades, NY 10964. (98)

SECURITY CONSULTANT seeks short/long term contracts.
Experienced in: Black Bag, surveillance, arms, infiltration, and
extraction. Serious inquiries only. (301 )848-2838. Leave num-
ber/call back time or address. (97)

HANDPAINTED 54mm military miniatures, imported chess
sets, Britians miniatures, Corgi cars and more. $2 for catalogs,
some in color. SHOWCASE MINIATURES, PO Box 1011
Dept. SF, Hutchinson. KS 67504-1011. (97)

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OCTOBER 85

SOMlIEIl OF FORTUNE 111

SPECIAL FORCES, Ranger, Airborne Unit Coins, Decals,
Flashes. 40 cents in stamps for list. PHILLIPS MILITARY, 121
West Monticello, Brookhaven, MS 39601. (96)

FIREWORKS— Where to buy firecrackers $3.50 a brick, rock¬
ets $2.20 a gross, M-80s, blockbusters, and giant Class B
aerial displays. Complete directory of mail-order suppliers list¬
ing hundreds of fireworks, $3.50. PYROTECHNICS, Box 230,
RFD 1 , Mystic. CT 06355. (98)_

CONFIDENTIAL Mail Forwarding Service, ‘Privacy is our
utmost concern." For details send SASE to: DJL ASSOCI-
ATES, PO Box 510, Varysburg, NY 14187. (96)_

PRIVATE, CONFIDENTIAL, dependable mail forwarding and
remailing service. For FREE details, write B.P.S. INC., Suite
65. 11814 Aviation Blvd., Inglewood, CA 90304. (97)

FREE PIN LIST. Law Enforcement Mini-Badges, Police,
Sports, Olympic. Fine enamel & Cloisonne pins. Send 50 cents
for postage to: B.H.P.C., PO Box 2504, Beverly Hills, CA
90213. (97)

Ml GARANDS: direct from the government, CHEAP; pur¬
chase instructions $6. HURRY BEFORE ITS TOO LATE!!
INFORMATION SYSTEMS, Box 2351SOF, Farmington Hills,
Ml 46018. (96)_

FREE GUNS and ammo from our government Get rifies (in¬
cluding Mis) and ammo (all you can shoot) totally FREE. For
the taxes you pay they owe you this! Legal and guaranteed.
Instructions $10. CC/MO/CASH. INFORMATION SYSTEMS,
Box 2351 SOF, Farmington Hills, Ml 46018. (96)

TRACERS: made at home safely and inexpensively; they work
as good as the ones that sell for $1 a round! Instructions,
formulas $7 CC/MO/CASH. INFORMATION SYSTEMS, Box
2351SOF, Farmington Hills, Ml 48018. (96)

ANIMAL REPELLAWTS— Guaranteed vulgar scents. Long
lasting. Send SASE for product description/price list. "ON THE
NOSE," PO Box 158BSF, San Pedro. CA 90731. (97)

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BERET WE ARERS1 Are you only in it for the money? Proclaim
your loyalties with our "dollar sign" beret flash! Only $3.95 ea!
DELOTTO ENTERPRISES, PO Box 2375, Devon, CT 06460.
(96)_

DONALD E. ROSENKRANZ, 1st Lt., 3rd Div., 1954, Korea.
Please contact your old Korean War buddy DIMITRI, at tele¬
phone (808)878-6267. (96)

QUALITY BULLWHIPS at incredible prices. 6’-$40,8’-$52.88,
12'-$68.40. Add $2 S&H. We also offer revenge oriented para¬
phernalia. For info send 25 cents to "BLUE DEVIL”, PO„Box
3016, Fallbrook, CA 92028. (97)_

FREEI Military & Martial Arts Catalog. Interest free credit acct.,
available to buyers. THE SEA BAG, 4523 E. Wonderiake
Drive, Wonderiake, IL 60097.

FALLOUT SHELTER PLANS— Complete step-by-step in¬
structions and materials list- $6 ppd. REED ENGINEERING,
6033 W. Bethany, No. 814, Phoenix, AZ 85301.

NEED A MEDIC/CORPSMAN that can handle a weapon as
well as a wound? Write to: CHIEF, Box 757, Grand Island, NE
68802.

POLICE T-SHIRTS— large selction of T-shirts for policmen.
FBI, CIA, NYPD, SWAT and MANY MORE! Free brochure!
CENTURION SHIRT CO., Box 482, Merrick, NY 11566.

Telephone Listening Device

Record telephone conversations in your
office or home. Connects between any
cassette or tape recorder and your
telephone or telephone LINE. Starts
automatically when phone is answered
Records both sides of phone conversation.
Stops recorder when phone is hung up
This device is not an answering service

Super Powerful

Wireless Mic

10 times more powerful than other mics I
Transmits up to V« mile to any FM radio (.

Easy to assemble kit, 15V battery (not mcl.)

Call (305) 725-1000 or sand $19.95+ $1.00 shipping par
Item to USJ Corp * P.O. Box SF-2052, Melbourne, FL 32901.
COD’s accept For catalog of transmitters, voice scramblers
and other specialty items, enclose $2.00 to USI Corp,

SNIPER GLOVES

You’re on target with these ADD 1.75 P&H

unique shooting gloves.

Made of pure wool knit with
leather facings. Features
exposed trigger finger for
pressure control and
fold-over pouch to form
mittens for warmth. Extra long
cuffs for wrist protection.

O.D. color. Sizes S.M.L.

VISA, M/C, AMEX, DC.
check or money order

Toll FREE 1-800-524-0885 or Mail to
RATCATCHERS USA SF-10A

600 North Union Ave., Hillside, N.J. 07205

SPECIAL OPERATIVES, al! jobs considered, confidential ser¬
vice. ELDON, PO Box 53. Downing, MO 63536.

FIREWORKS, where to buy! 9-page source book w/ address¬
es, information, valuable fireworks coupon!!! $3. CHURCHILL,
4230 Arista, San Diego. CA 92103. (96)_

OFFICIAL St. Michael's Airborne Medaliion Sterling Silver,
13/16"x1", 24” chain, $19.95 ppd. EAGLE LTD, 635 Jefferson
St, (SF), Fairborn, OH 45324. (97)_

INVESTORS/WORKING PARTNER wanted for Night Club in
Manila (Ermita). Minimum $10,000 required. Contact WYLLIE,
1400 Carpentier, No.122, San Leandro, CA 94577. (96)

COURIER, Escort, Personal Representative. Short-term, pri¬
vate or commercial. Canada, Hawaii, and the continental Unit¬
ed States. Atl offers considered. Totally confidential. SAND-
PIPER, PO Box 3306, Ann Arbor, Mt 46106. (98)_

SPANISH LEGION, Paratrooper, SF, camouflaged combat
suits. Waterproof-windproof cloth, set: Jacket with frontal zip¬
per, detachable hood- 7 pockets, pants- 6 pockets. Size:
S.M.L.XL, $43 set. Write to: JUAN PURON, d Snta. Teresa
20.33007, Oviedo, Spain.

INTRODUCING “PROPOLIS". An ancient, yet virtually un¬
known, invaluable, Irreplaceable, uitra-nutritional GIFT from
Honeybees. Leam the untold LEGACY of Mother Nature's awe
inspiring. Health Nutrient phenomenon. Request Com¬
plimentary BOOK (plus) product brochures. SELECTLINE,
(established 1977), Box 391 (SFW), P.C., Hawii 96782-0391.

HECKLER & KOCH

Complete tine of accessories—send Large SASE
(two stamps) for prices and availability to:
BUDDY HINTON
DepL SOF, 8411 Cburchville
Houston, Texas 77080
Call ONLY after 6pm CST (713) 465-4292

SECRET MAILBOX! Confidential, dependable mail receiving
and forwarding. Write POSTAL SHOPPE. 369 East 900 South,
Salt Lake City, UT 84111._

FOR HIRE: Professional, discreet & effective lie detection
services for private concerns. Write: EXAMINER, PO Box 72,
Dixie, GA 31629

BLASTING AND EXPLOSIVES safety training manual. The
complete study guide to commercial blasting techniques. The
manual contains samples of state and city blasters license
exams. This is the ultimate study guide for those applying for
state licenses. Illustrated 200 plus pages, $49.50 plus $4 ship-
ping. EASTSIDE CO,, PO Box 30718, LB., CA 90853.

M-43 AFRIKA CORPS style hats- first model -high peak-
$18.50 ppd. Black, OD, or Woodland, sizes S.M.UXL, 100%
cotton, lined. EAGLE LTD.. 635 Jefferson St., Dept. SOF,
Fairborn, OH 45324. (98)

“ALPHA MAIL SERVICE: Full service, lemail, forwarding,
privacy, Vietnam Vet will handle. Send SASE: DEAN, PO Box
65, Potsdam, OH 45361.” (97)_

BRITISH MILTIARIA. 1800s to date. Royal Air Force, Army,
Royal Navy, Special Air Service, Parachute Regiment, Royal
Marines: Insignia, Headwear, Badges, Uniforms, Combat
Clothing, much much more. 81 *pg catalog $4 or $8. $6 gets $5
gift certificate off purchases of $50 or more. BRITANNIA DE¬
SIGNS (DEPTA), Box 477, San Juan Capistrano, CA 92693.
( 101 )

FOR HIRE: Professional, discreet computer and electronics
specialist; martial arts, evasive driving training. Short-term in¬
vestigative, security, or courier preferred, high-risk positions
welcome. Will travel. Inquiries strictly confidential. ANDER¬
SON, PO Box 381, Buriington, IL 60109.

“FAME BRINGS fortune, is fame your goal? Would you dare
protect the US from domestic enemy within. Details SASE, Box
195. natalia, TX 78059.”

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J ment. Concrete mikes, telephone and pen buns J
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with purchase. Unbeatable prices. J
MICROCOM TECH CORP. F J
P.O. Box 347341 • Cleveland. OH 44134J

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'h MILE RANGE

“THE CUTTING EDGE! Gerber Survival Knives! Guardian-
$34.95! Mark I- $42.95! Command I- $42.95! Includes ship¬
ping. Lowest pricesT00% guarantee! Catalogue- $2. Check/
MO: LEWIS & CLARK, PO Box 111. Saline. Ml 48176.”

GUN FOR HIRE: Nam Sniper, instructor, SWAT, Pistol, Rifle,
Security specialist, Bodyguard, Courier, plus. All jobs consi¬
dered. Privacy guaranteed. (214)756-5941 MIKE. (37)

LOW PRICES— take-down blowgun and darts $19.95, Nl
Baton $27.95, Cold Steel Tanto $119.95. Money back guaran¬
tee, checks, money orders, MasterCard/Visa to Gl LTD., 33
Wlnrock, Suite 501, Albuquerque, NM 87110. (96)

BALLISTIC FACEGUARD. 20 layers of Kevlar protection, with
a reinforced open eyesloi. ^"xllVfe” stops .45 hardball, yet
weighs only 28 ozs. $125 cash or MO ppd. Information $1.
Kevlar sample $8. FRANSE, PO Box 3347, Boulder, CO
80307. (97)

MASSIVE MASSACRE CQVERUP

Cfntotd me?sacre covered up by the Army Air Corps
* Nearly 1GQ.0QG Japanese killed in the water • The
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— #0. Box 1361, Ghirio Valley, AZ 86323.

USA BERET, Green Beret with Gold Eagle Crest, for the
"PROUD AMERICAN" $18. A.H.A., Box 21606, Denver, CO
80221. MasterCard & VISA accepted*_

GRENADES! M33 Baseball Grenade $8, M26 Lemon Gre¬
nade $8, Mkl Pineapple Grenade $7.50. All have moving
parts, inert. A.H.A., Box 21606, Denver, CO 80221

BRITISH MILITARY SUPPLY, latest listing of Uniforms,
Equipment, Berets and Insignia $1. B.M.S., Box 21606, De¬
nver, CO 80221.

THAILAND CAMOUFLAGE SUITS, Tiger Stripes as worn by
US in SE Asia, slant-pockets etc...$48. Boonie Hats $13.
A.H.A., Box 21606, Denver, CO 80221.

US AIRFORCE SURVIVAL Firestarter, latest issue, neces¬
sary part of any survival kit $5.75. A.H.A., Box 21606, Denver,
CO 80221._

TIGER STRIPE Jungle Fatigues, 4-pocket jacket, 6-pocket
pants reinforced elbows, seat & knees $52 per suit. A.H.A.,
Box 21606, Denver, CO 60221. MasterCard & VISA accepted!

RUSSIAN NAVAL Airborne Berets, original black Berets &
Insignia, only $21. A.H.A., Box 21606, Denver, CO 80221.

RUSSIAN CAMOUFLAGE Jumpsuits, same as worn in “RED
DAWN" $115 ea. A.H.A., Box 21606, Denver, CO 80221.
MasterCard & VISA accepted!

YES!

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Send to: SOF Exchange. P.O. Box 687.
Boulder. CO 80306

112 SOLDIER OF FORTUNE

OCTOBER 85

1945-1985 OFFICIAL V-J DAY COMMEMORATIVE KNIFE

A limited edition honoring the American Fighting Forces of World War II

SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 2,1945...

It was the first time in naval history that two
5-star flags had flown from the same mast. The
quarter-deck of the battleship Missouri shone in
the sun as General Douglas A. MacArthur began
his speech, sealing the moment of surrender.

“My fellow countrymen:

Today the guns are silent. A great tragedy has
ended. A great victory has been won. The skies
no longer rain death—the seas bear only com¬
merce-men everywhere walk upright in the
sunlight. The entire world lies quietly at Peace.
The Holy Mission has been completed...”

And with that, it was over. The grim, bitter
fighting was replaced by pride. Our nation had
survived World War II.

EDITION NUMBER ONE TO
MacARTHUR MUSEUM

The United States Historical Society is proud
to present the official V-J Day Commemorative
Knife honoring those dedicated to defending our
countrys freedom. Serial Number One, has
been presented to the MacArthur Museum, Nor¬
folk, Virginia, in honor of the great General and
Supreme Commander.

The V-J Combat Knife is an original design;
the distinctive blade shape is one that veterans
will recognize as a fighting knife that made
American history.

The familiar single-edge blade is cold-rolled
steel, blued to block reflection at night. The
powerful cutter is 7” long, V/z" wide, with a 514"
bonded ivory grip. (Bonded ivory has the feel and
appearance of tusk ivory, but is stronger and not
subject to yellowing oxidation.)

Two unique scenes of 24-karat gold embel¬
lish the strong steel blade. One side is a portrait
of the Supreme Commander of the Allied Forces,
General Douglas A. MacArthur, framed in the
victors laurel wreath. On the beach, the stalwart
Marines inch forward, bayonets drawn, in the
cover of the bulwark Tank. In the clouds, the
mighty B-29, the aircraft credited with bringing
the enemy to its knees.

The litany of names of remote places our
heroes fought—and often, died—surround the
blades scene from spine to point: LEYTE,
SOLOMONS, KWAJALEIN, BOUGAIN¬
VILLE, TRUK, SAIPAN, ULITHI, PELELIU,
CORAL SEA, OKINAWA, GUADALCANAL,
TINIAN...names of the battles etched in the
hearts and minds of the American people forever.

Admiral Chester W Nimitz, Commander in
Chief, Pacific Fleet, and architect of the key naval
victories, is the focus of the bladeb opposite side.

He is flanked by the Aircraft Carrier, Yorktoum,
and the battleship, Missouri (the “Mighty Mo”).
In the air is the legendary dive bomber, the small,
fast aircraft piloted by dauntless young men.
Again the name that will live forever: IWO JIMA,
ENIWETOK, PHILIPPINES, MARIANAS,
BURMA, CORREGIDOR, SURIBACHI,
PEARL HARBOR, MIDWAY, TARAWA,
TUL AGI. . . each with its story of valor.

The pommel is brass, heavily plated in pure,
24-karat gold. It bears the Great Seal of the
United States of America. The single hilt is a
fighting design executed in mirror polished brass
with deep plating of 24-karat gold.

The official V-J Commemorative Knife is a
weapon to instill confidence in fighting men. It
incorporates the fine details and structural craft¬
ing of the classic combat knives.

I n the Smithsonian National Museum
hangs the portrait of Congressional
Medal of Honor winner, Captain Jack
Osborne, holding his combat knife with
nicks and holes made by enemy bullets
on New Guinea; Osborne gave his rifle
to another man and defended himself
with his battleworthy combat knife.
When all the bullets were used and the
gun was useless, it was the blade that
stood between the fighting man and
his foe.

A COLLECTOR S EDITION
This special limited edition Commemorative
Knife will be sent to you in a protective, velvet-

lined case with a Certificate of Authenticity. Your
serial number is engraved on the pommel, be¬
neath the Great Seal, and is registered in the
Societys Archives.

HOW TO RESERVE YOUR KNIFE

You may place your reservation by using the
form on this page, or if using your Credit Card,
use our Toll Free number.

With your V-J Day Commemorative Knife,
you receive permanent membership (with all
rights and privileges) in the United States His¬
torical Society. You will receive advance notice of
forthcoming antique arms issues, guaranteed first
option to reserve subsequent editions in a series,
and an obligation free examination period.

If, for any reason, you are not satisfied, you
may return any special edition within 30 days for
a full refund. You will receive the Society News¬
letter and further advance information on his¬
torical projects of the United States Historical
Society.

IN MEMORY OF...

On V-J day, Admiral Nimitz released this
statement

“Today all freedom loving peoples of the world
rejoice in the victory and feel pride in the ac¬
complishments of our combined forces. We also
pay tribute to those who defended our freedom
at the cost of their lives.”

You need not have served in the military to
share in the patriotic national pride of V-J Day.
Your display of this commemorative knife is ready
evidence of the respect you share with us for
our country’s defending forces.

United States Historical Society Dept.S. Telephone: (804)648-4736

c/o Lt. General Richard M. Montgomery U.S. A.E/Ret. 24-hour Toll Free: (800) 446-7968

First and Main Streets
Richmond,VA 23219

I wish to reserve the Official V-J COMMEMORATIVE COMBAT KNIFE(S) at S195 each. I understand it has
a blued steel blade and bonded ivory grip; the original art decoration is 24-karat gold; the pommel and hilt are
brass, heavily plated in 24-karat gold.

□ My payment in full is enclosed, (S_per knife)

□ I prefer to charge:_VISA _American Express _MasterCard _Diners Club

Card Number_Exp. Date_

Name_

Address_

State

Zii

•ip-

City_

I am a Veteran.

Note: Veterans of the Armed Forces are entitled to obtain the official V-J Day Knife for S175. If you are a veteran,
please indicate your branch of service, rate/rank and Service number for the Society archives.

Service Branch:_Army _Navy _Marine _Air Force _Coast Guard _Merchant Marine

Service No____

Virginia rwufen&pteue add 4% idfa lax.

USHA 01985

□ Payment enclosed (U.S. Funds only)

□ MasterCard □ VISA

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Exo Datp-

Signature: _ .

Address

(Offer good in U.S. only) Please allow 6-8 weeks for your first copy
to be mailed.

'Savings based on annual newsstand rate of $30.

City

Offer Expires 12/31/85

State

Zipcode

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GUIMS S,
ACTION

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of GUNS & ACTION for
only $21.95. I SAVE 26%.*

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SAVINGS BASED ON ANNUAL NEWSSTAND RATE OF $38.

niMEi The Vietnam

LIFE

BOOKS

ntEE COLOR MAP lor Just examining: the hrst
book. Facl-Hlled with details ol Vietnam and its
neighboring countries Including air bases, marine.
landings and the position ol US. seventh fleet.

YESII would like to see Combat Photo grapher as my
introduction to The Vietnam Experience series. Please send
it to me for 10 days free examination. Also send me future
volumes under the terms described in the ad that accom¬
panies this card. The color map is mine to keep.

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Canadian moil forn™ in envelope. AU older* subject to approval

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TIME

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